I don’t suppose there are any protests planned for when John Key leaves Parliament. It would be great to give him a final hurray to let him know that a lot of people don’t like him. I don’t live in Wellington so couldn’t make it but it is a fine thought.
I also don’t think he is just disliked by the general population. He has unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people by passing the blame, particularly in the Public Service. They, their families and friends must know the truth when someone further down the chain of command has been the scapegoat for the actions of Key and his ministers.
He may have unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people. He may deserve a noisy send-off. (or better still a ‘Bugger off!’) I personally think he was a lying, weasly opportunist.
It’s a fact though that he was not disliked by the general population. Certainly not by any significant numbers.
Media assisted Key. Take this weeks Nation and Q&a, both had annoying stupid greying balding hacks on, no doubt paid by the 1% to go on TV and say annoyingly stupid things. Franks says Greens caused Aucklands Housing crisis, you know the Green party that constucted the stupid city, Key, and the ACT MP Hide who became local govt minister. Then on Q&a former ACT leader, the more balding one, says that not only should foregn buyers have no cultural concerns when shifting to a new different culture, but once here should total act without any community spirit, doubling down on how mney makes rich people invinsible invisible even to us general oiks. This is how Key got such an easy ride, dumb and stupid are merged and put into the media spotlight, just right, that it does not show. As long as the talking heads dont shift the shadows, insure the obvious lies aren’t not asked or answered, then the distraction is complete. everyone gets paid. Hey think about the Chinese tourists, how can they feel about bringing their monkey year child up on NZ milk, to NZ and feeling at home swimming in a shitty river like back home.
The dairy boom was a politicial Chinese need for milk and we all paid for it with farm debt, land misuse in conversions, overstocking and shiity rivers. No wonder NZ gets poorer, it grows and takes on all the risks and hands off the profits.
You do realise that Q & A usually has a political scientist, plus a commentator from the left and the right; same with the Nation. As publicly funded political programmes I guess they naively think balance is important.
So it is no doubt really annoying for you to put with comment from the right as well as the left. Though Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation, certainly much less than National supporters think appropriate.
At least it gives you something to complain about.
“Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation.”
Must be a real bastard for him that there are traffic lights and speed limits restricting his freedom to choose.
The right by which you mean super individualists whose objective is to stymie the issue and keep systemic wealth unaccountable. Essentially false libertarians whose job is to hose down any issue. Any company that grows has growing pains, its essential those matrs are brought to the boardroom, inequality, low pay, high rents, por public transit, shitty rivers, etc are all met by these paid supposed libertarians with ad hom, distraction fed by mediator of some gen war. If the nats really thought these particular commentators are doing themselves any favors then sirely they deserve the now obvious joke. Trump, like them makes bald obvious untrue claims of greatness, how he’s great with the economyetc Facts are nAtional are woeful managers of the economy, who shorts their kids? Tax cuts coupled with taxing education, its decades of shoving future weath into the pile of present politicial expediancy.
And its all now coming back to bite. The ultra stupid savants of ACT are hardly credible rightwing commentators, just lousy socialists for the few.
Christ Wayne – you really are quite a naiive little wall flower aren’t you. And here’s me thinking you were the Brains of Britain with a wealth of experience.
No accounting for a closed mind, rote ‘learnings’ and ideology though I ‘spose.
Btw…..did you check out Matty boy this morning?. Someone’s obviously told him to try and be cool calm and collected. He ALMOST made it.
He was almost convincing. He certainly had Nick Smith and major friend Bill pegged (as to their mediocre intelligence, disguised by polly and spin speak).
It was probably Matty’s attempt at exercising a smidgeon of honesty (going forward).
Congratulations Matty – you almost made it.
But as for you Wayne – much as I tried to think otherwise, now I know you’re really just full of shit dressed up in the robes of academic rationalism and supposed experience.
You’ll go far (going forward). A+ with honours
And oh btw @ Wayne
Did you hear Nick Smith on Q+A or The Nation (both fairly feeble efforts at holding our political ‘representatives’ to account in a democratic nation state) say
“I did them the courtesy of meeting them in my office”.
??
It seems to me that Nick the faux has lost all notion of what his job is, what a functioning rep dem is, and the idea that he is a servant. (As of course were you and ilk if you could just get past your priviledges and swilling at the trough)
Historically, that’s the sort of arrogance that got the natives really really restless. Lucky we don’t really have a functioning mainstream media that picks up on those details – though as Dear Matty suggests – Nick Smith is managing to piss off people all on his own
Ah well it’s been about 4 hours and fuk all response from ‘The Wayne’.
My reason for not engaging in discussion in the past was more about the state of TS – whereas, it appears ‘The Wayne’s’ is more about a troll-like hit and run agenda in pursuit of his agenda and in the name of self preservation.
@The Wayne, and @The Nick Smith …… we know you present yourselves as the gorgeous voices of reason (going forward), and as the intelligensia of the Neshnool Party along with that bitter old queen from the Eastern suburbs trying to define High and Might (there’d be one or two Snots Porridge old boys along with a few polly bois that still have ushooooos).
(There are a few of them that set themselves apart from the feral leopard skins but who are publicly so-in-sync with the same publicly – for some – it hurts: IT REALLY HURTS)
Why do you keep at it @ Wayne? (It’s a genuine question).
Are you actually as thick as I suspect you might be and just riding on your past, or are you getting just an eeensie teeeensie little bit scared.
I think Matty Dear the Hooter could actually be correct, and that you, along with Nuk Smuff could actually be just a little bit FUK
Let me clarify @ Wayne
by which I mean you have the capacity for argument but not reason, ideology over issue, and a total lack of critical thought processes.
Polly wanna Cracker?
Wayne – you’re in ….compliant? ideologically comitted’ cultural? company. There’s a Hekia to ya roit, and a Crus to ya left. A part time feminist to ya roit, and a bitter old poof to ya left (even though he’d be too scared to move)
. And both sides protesting a high ground in a compliant and main stream media (check out that AM Show fukwit trying his hardest to cling to yoof and relevance for a start -and no ….. not the “Dunk”
A tuff on croim coward to ya roit, and probably half the fucking back bench asking where to point their tounges: should it be towards a Bling giving a thrill his wife yet never has – or ……. (And it’s a shame that so many are just a little bit ….. you know …. Nafe Goi).
Jesus! I sure as shit hope you’re getting value for the CT dollar, but I suspect (as do others in your politically defined bracket) your time is up and you’ll have to start dealing with the ushooooze
Its hard? Could be he has a lots of super rich people breathing down his neck, who are entitled to not pay tax, not pay tarriffs, not be concern for local culture, community or environment needs, and wealth for then is a pissing contest, as they cant take it with them, they find the only purpose to life is to piss highest up the wealth pole.
Put a tax on how far pottable water is transported, including bottled. People should live close to water storage, like they live close to food, transport, work, as it saves energy.
Noted. Wealthy people change nothing, nothing to see types, its so good, its never been better… …oh and bring back beatings for kids. Yeah, they hven’t ben holding back Northland with thei ineffective neolib fantasy of leaving it to the market, no not them, that stress out families, working two jobs, never able to communicate values to their kids.
New Zealand, in my considered opinion, is and has been riddled with endemic and entrenched corruption for decades.
The ‘commercialise – corporatise -PRIVATISE Neo – liberal Rogernomics’ model, locally, nationally and internationally, promoted and enforced the contracting out of public services that used to be provided ‘in house’ by central and local government.
The ‘Rogernomics RORT’ was based upon the unsubstantiated myth and mantra
‘PUBLIC IS BAD – PRIVATE IS GOOD’.
That public service provision, under the genuine non-commercialised (not for profit) public service model was supposedly ‘inefficient’.
‘Inefficient’ in my view, was corporate-speak for ‘we haven’t yet got our filthy hands on it’.
The NZ Business Round Table (made up of CEOs of NZ BIG business) who both vigorously promoted and directly benefited from the Rogernomics reforms which served their vested interests – focused on a form of ‘grand’ corruption which most New Zealanders have never even heard of.
STATE CAPTURE – where vested interests get their way at the POLICY level, to get laws passed which serve their vested interests.
Where do you look to find STATE CAPTURE in New Zealand?
Look at the Regulatory Impact Statements that are produced before proposed law changes go to Cabinet.
Look at those with whom the ‘policy analysts’ have consulted.
That’s how this form of endemic ‘grand’ corruption has been carried out for decades in this corrupt, polluted tax haven, falsely and misleadingly marketed as ‘clean, green New Zealand’.
What a total CROCK.
The answer?
In my considered opinion ?
Open the books.
Cut out the contractors.
Return public services to ‘in house’ provision under the public service model.
Penny Bright
Proven ‘anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog’
Bruce has got a great idea, the natural world doesn’t like the west coast or people very much so the plan is to export the natural world to China. Genius!
This is a great boost for the West Coast, S.I. NZ The locals think it’s all right.
Yeah, a good idea we’ve got plenty of it heh heh, says Fred Dagg, a local.
I’ll become a supplier, wear one of those heavy waterproof coats and a hat with a rim and catch the flow in a container at the hem. The way it rains here I’ll be a millionaire in ten years. They are short of water in the world but we will always have plenty to spare. Great idea, need some business and new people to boost house prices here.
Great news. Today’s farmers have a new idea – they are putting in water troughs like NZ farms always used to have. However the energy being used as of now to move the water is not provided by solar, so they are really starting with an old model which would probably have been gravity-fed and adding old technology to it. Hey guys and girls there are things that have been discovered since then – solar, and of course there is the ancient method of windmills that have been updated. So much to learn, it’s a problem.
Up-front capital costs included pipes, troughs and tanks, as well as fences and additional stock. Running costs were fuel or electricity, insurance, as well as additional fertiliser and extra supplementary feed.
It takes a very switched on farmer to farm the organic way , there have been some horror stories about animals suffering under people that have tried and failed.
It’s not hard technically. Organics is just another set of skills and approaches (although I think you probably do need to have the philosophy clear in your own head too). I can’t see how it would be any harder than switching from sheep to industrial dairying for instance.
The problem is that the huge infrastructure that exists to support farming doesn’t support organics very well. Banks, farm advisors, support organisations, govt research etc are still massively weighted towards industrial and conventional farming. Not to mention supply line issues. Farm debt is a big one too from what I understand. Banks are less likely to lend to operations they don’t understand and perceive as risky. Risk assessment being affected by all that other weighting.
we’ve breed sheep and cattle for at least 50 years using all manner of potions to keep them safe ,they have no natural resistance , the most successful ones i’ve heard of have two blocks ,one organic one not so they can transfer the weaker stock that need help to the chemical farm
yep that would be the biggy , some ram breeders are working on worm resistance , as drench resistance is becoming more of a problem we may be forced to go drench free at some point down the track, unless they come up with a new one.
fly strike would be a hard one too, and with things getting warmer that is a problem that will only grow. on the bright side the new dips are a lot less toxic than the old ones
Vaccines have been the saviour of us and animals though.
I read in a series of novels set in the 18th century that there had been a bad cattle plague. It certainly was a doozy.
Wikipedia: Cattle plagues recurred throughout history, often accompanying wars and military campaigns. They hit Europe especially hard in the 18th century, with three long panzootics which, although varying in intensity and duration from region to region, took place in the periods of 1709–1720, 1742–1760, and 1768–1786.[14]
There was a major outbreak covering the whole of Britain in 1865/66. Later in history, an outbreak in the 1890s killed 80 to 90% of all cattle in southern Africa, as well as in the Horn of Africa. Sir Arnold Theiler was instrumental in developing a vaccine that curbed the epizootic. More recently, a rinderpest outbreak raged across much of Africa in 1982–1984, costing at least an estimated US$500 million in stock losses.
But good news! On 14 October 2010, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that field activities in the decades-long, worldwide campaign to eradicate the disease were ending, paving the way for a formal declaration in June 2011 of the global eradication of rinderpest.[5]
On 25 May 2011, the World Organisation for Animal Health announced the free status of the last eight countries not yet recognized (a total of 198 countries were now free of the disease), officially declaring the eradication of the disease.[6]
In June 2011, the United Nations FAO confirmed the disease was eradicated, making rinderpest only the second disease in history to be fully wiped out, following smallpox.[7]
In relation to Organic Dairy Farming the limited amount of supply was reduced further 2-3 years ago by incompetence (a particular manager) at a mid-management level in Fonterra when their dedicated group of organic suppliers around the Manawatu and Wanganui regions were told that their Organic premiums were going to cease and their organic milk would be pumped in with the regular milk supply.
After a couple of years many of the suppliers forwent their Organic status as the low payout meant their farms lost much of their profitability.
Role on a couple more years and the incompetent had been fired and then Fontera were begging for Organic supply again – not so easy to regain your organic status.
How many farms? That sounds like someone who doesn’t know what they are doing rather than being about organics. What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?
”What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?”
a useless one and as there is no licence to farm there is no way of stopping his type,
although a bad outbreak can catch out even the good cockies.
“The reported incidence of Crohn’s disease in Canterbury, New Zealand has doubled over the past decade, crowning the region with the highest reported incidence globally. Scientists around the world believe environmental factors are contributing to this disconcerting rise. In this investigation, we present the research on a disease found primarily in dairy cattle called Johne’s disease, which has the same symptoms as Crohn’s disease and is recognised on over half of all dairy farms in New Zealand. If the MAP bacteria which causes the immune responses in dairy cattle is tested and found in our local drinking water supplies, our air and our dairy products, we could be facing a public health issue of massive proportions.
Johne’s (“Yo-nees”) disease is a contagious, chronic and sometimes fatal infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Johne’s disease is found primarily in agricultural ruminants such as cattle and sheep, and is an immune system response following MAP infection which leads to deteriorated bowels. This inability to process nutrients leads to the most obvious signs an animal may have contracted Johne’s such as weakening, weight loss and even death. Most animals are infected during the first months of their life, yet signs of the infection can take years to show.”
Sabine thanks for that heads up.
That is really interesting. And it might be one of those illnesses that faecal implants are able to help. I’ve heard Crohn’s is horrible. A real kick in the guts.
It sounds similar to leptospirosis, which is passed on from animals.
http://www.medicinenet.com/leptospirosis/page2.htm What causes leptospirosis?
The cause of leptospirosis is bacteria, Leptospira interrogans, a Gram-negative spirochete (spiral-shaped bacteria). The bacteria infect many types of animals (many wild animals, rodents, dogs, cats, pigs, horses, cattle, for example) that subsequently contaminate water, lakes, rivers, soil, and crops when they urinate because the bacteria are present in urine.
The bacteria then infect humans when they invade through breaks in the skin or mucus membranes or when people ingest them. The bacteria multiply in the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Person-to-person transfer of this disease is rare.
That too leaves a person weaker and vulnerable to illness and seems chronic.
So on top of all the other factors which make dairy farming bad economically.
Now it would appear, that those with a predisposition to catching Crohn’s disease (which we have no idea of those numbers) are catching the disease because it is a zoonotic (transferable from animals to humans) in nature. And our dairy heard is full of the disease.
This national government, does nothing beyond short term – at the expense of the long term health of the population. What else will we learn that their shortsightedness has done to hurt the population I wonder.
we shifted house 8 weeks ago, but because of our chinese landlord not being here in nz and not having signed the form we must wait 31 working day for a time out and then we will be re-funded our bond.
Now luckily we are not too poor and moved into our own pad, so did not need the bond to be returned in time to pay for another bond (or pay back any advances from the bank).
I wonder how standard this is, how much interest people loose on their bond money, and how many overseas landlord make it hard fro people to get their money back.
Also, can someone explain to me why bond money that is held for years is refunded without interest?
the reason i am asking is simple, the government holds the bonds paid by people. It would be fair to assume that the money held is accruing interest. where does that interest go?
again boring but, in Germany the bond (kaution) is held in an savings account on behalf of the tenant by the landlord and when both parties sign to release the bond, the amount plus interest is paid back to the tenant as it is their money security to save keep the house/flat. Right?
http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t97250.html
“The fairest way to deal with the Kaution is to put it in a savings book. This is held in the tenants name, the landlord looks after the book. The cash can only be withdrawn when both parties sign at the end of the tenancy so landlord and tenant have to agree any deductions before either get the cash. This is called a Bankburgschaft. As it is a savings account it collects interest and the tenant will recieve this.”
Another benefit of the intensive dairying in NZ
No doubt the scientist have got it all wrong just like the scientist who warn us about global warming sarc/
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Ivory Folly? The University of Auckland’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon, upheld the right of the radical nationalist group, Action Zealandia to exercise their freedom of speech – not matter how distasteful that speech might be. A wiser community of students and scholars would have nodded their agreement and moved on. ...
If you are not convinced terrorist Organisation ‘Extinction Rebellion’ is very, very dangerous – watch this video at one of their recent meetings. Not only is this obviously mentally ill Woman begging the other terrorists to promote killing and “eating” babies and children, if you watch carefully other members nod ...
The Ombudsman has been surveying people about their knowledge of the OIA and the right to information. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that widespread:The Chief Ombudsman says too many New Zealanders were in the dark over their right to access official information. Peter Boshier said an independent survey released yesterday on ...
In the wake of last Friday's climate strike, Peter McKenzie had an article in The Spinoff about protest strategies. The school strike movement is "polite" and cooperates with those in power because that's its kaupapa - its led by schoolkids who understandably don't want to risk arrest. But there's more ...
So, the latest ruminations on the gnews from Westminster (Again, sorry; I'll stop making that pun right now). This follows on from, and likely repeats bits of, my last post, on the suggestion that a Government of National Unity (GNU) should be set up and then oversee a referendum before ...
New Zealand likes to think of itself as not a racist country (despite being founded on the racist dispossession and subjugation of Maori). But for years, we've had a racist refugee policy, which basicly excludes refugees from Africa and the Middle East unless they already have relatives here. Now, the ...
Several people have asked me whether a particular repeat litigant could be declared a vexatious litigant, in light of their recent decision to appeal an adverse High Court ruling. My nascent tweet thread was getting ridiculously long, so it became this blog post instead.The short answer is: no. The particular ...
Appealing To The Past: Action Zealandia, like so many of the organisations springing up on the far-Right, across what they call the “Anglosphere”, is born out of the profound confusion over what a man is supposed to be in the twenty-first century and, more importantly, what he is supposed to do.THE STATUE OF ...
The attempts of anti-democratic transactivists to (often violently) disrupt women’s rights organising is largely ignored by those sections of the left most prone to misogyny and authoritarianism in New Zealand. In Britain, however, scores of trade union and left activists added their names to a letter in July, defending ...
The Justice Committee has reported back on the Criminal Cases Review Commission Bill. The Bill would establish an independent, quasi-judicial body to investigate and review potential miscarriages of justice, and refer them back to the Court of appeal if required. It would be a vital backstop to our judiciary, help ...
by The Spark On September 14, a total of 22 drones and cruise missiles struck two oil installations in Saudi Arabia, the Abqaiq processing facility and the Khurais oil field. Abqaiq is the largest oil production facility in the world. For a few days afterwards, Saudi Aramco, the Saudi national ...
How much will NeoLiberal irregulation of the building sector and subsequent leaky homes crisis cost us? $47 billion, according to a new book:The total cost to fix all of New Zealand's leaky homes would be $47 billion, probably. The estimate comes from a new book, Rottenomics written by journalist Peter ...
Below is the start of another excellent article on the Freer Lives blog. Click onto the link at the end of this extract to read the full article. The punch-a-terf, kill-a-terf message pervades social media, always righteously delivered, chin held high. By contrast, the dehumanised “terfs” themselves, that is gender-critical ...
The Reserve Bank is currently planning tighter banking regulation, requiring banks to hold enough local capital to survive a 1-in-200 year financial crisis in order to protect consumers. The big Aussies banks, those foreign leeches who suck $5 billion in profit out of our economy every year, don't like that, ...
Its the usual story: a police officer beats a handcuffed suspect so hard they break one of their own fingers. The IPCA investigates and concludes that the use of force was unlawful. And the police refuse to do anything about it:A man punched repeatedly in the face by a police ...
From time to time we add links to our blogroll. The latest blog we have added is Freer Lives. This is a Marxist gender-critical blog, based in Melbourne, Australia. On it you will find a bunch of excellent articles which use the tools of Marxist analysis to critique the rise ...
Last Friday say the largest protest in a generation, as 170,000 people joined the school strike and marched to demand real action on climate change. The demands of the school strike were simple and clear: declare a climate emergency, set a climate target of net-zero by 2040, impose a total ...
Labour is a rather middle of the road capitalist party and earlier this year we discussed how far from being ‘transformative’, Ardern’s government is. An article published this week in the Guardian, by Bryce Edwards (political scientist and commentator at Victoria University), looks at Ardern’s business as usual performance. Where ...
In the hours since my last interminable wittering about the possibility of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in Britain, there has been a slight maybe development:A Corbyn-led caretaker government could then sit for several months while it enacted and delivered a referendum with the support of smaller parties and ...
Jeremy Clarkson says much like Greta Thunberg, Anne Frank “didn’t like what was going on”, but “she didn’t have a tantrum about it.” Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has offered praise to historical figure Anne Frank, comparing her favourably to 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, who he attacked in ...
Press release by Speak Up For Women Lesbians from women’s rights group Speak Up For Women are furious at reports that Rainbow Tick are threatening Massey University with the removal of their ‘tick’ if they let the group’s event go ahead. The group has been under attack from trans ...
By Duncan Garner Before you jump down my throat, nobody cares about the environment more than me. I have a garden, and since my wife and I broke up, I’ve let it grow wildly out of control, so please don’t tell me I’m not doing enough for plants. They’re ten ...
Local government elections are upon us again. It is a fair bet that, when they are over, we will have all the usual complaints that, despite their undoubted importance, the turnout was depressingly low. So, why do local elections attract so little attention and involvement from the general public? I ...
We want every New Zealander to be happy, safe, and healthy. To do this, we need to support strong, safe communities, and a robust and efficient health system. ...
Defence Minister Ron Mark has used his powers to overrule a noise complaint ruling against Whenuapai airbase on the grounds of "national security". The Environment Court last month released a ruling in favour of a private developer, declaring the Auckland airbase had to comply with noise restrictions when it performs ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has opened fire against "unreconstructed morons" after NZ First MP Shane Jones was photographed on holiday holding an AR-15 rifle. Mr Peters is defending Mr Jones, telling Magic Talk host Peter Williams that his MP was just having fun "like most people do". "The ...
New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau was in attendance during the morning blessing of the Rotorua Lakefront development project. Around 60 people gathered on the shores of Lake Rotorua, including city mayor Steve Chadwick and deputy Dave Donaldson. The Lakefront development is a ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones is considering reining in on conversions of farmland to forestry, and also issued a warning to foreign-owned forestry companies that make up nearly 75 per cent of the industry. He said too many foreign companies had not provided enough access for domestic processors to get timber. ...
Speaking to Radio NZ, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the tightening of the parental category visa is a direct result of the Party’s coalition negotiations with the Labour Party. He said the new changes switch the financial onus from the parent moving to New Zealand to the child ...
The Coalition Government is set to cut red tape in the building and construction sector in an effort to allow more houses to be built, including prefabricated houses. The changes will enable the mass factory production of "high quality" buildings, slash the likely number of building inspections for factory produced ...
Since coming into Government, we’ve worked hard to tackle homelessness and make sure everyone has a warm, dry home. And today, on World Homeless Day, we want to report back and update you on our progress so far. ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit back at National Party leader Simon Bridges who criticized the Coalition Government’s approach to crime, and said that the latter isn't credible in his attack on the Government over gang recruitment. "We've got as massive drug problem in this country. It is ...
New Zealand Mānuka honey exporters have welcomed an initiative by the Coalition Government to help secure the term “mānuka honey” to be used exclusively by Kiwi exporters, ensuring that our multimillion-dollar industry is protected. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones had recently announced that a Provincial Growth Funding of $5.7 ...
Political commentator Mike Hosking has labelled New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as “the voice of reason in a government soft on drugs”, for the Party’s stance on drug testing at music festivals. “If common sense is worth a vote, Winston Peters is quids in,” Mr Hosking said. The Labour ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau has announced Provincial Growth Funding to ensure work opportunities in Turangi and Whanganui, through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi. A fund of $500,000 will go to Rafting NZ in Turangi for a 16-week river guide training course to train ...
Treasury has shown that the Coalition Government has a $7.5 billion surplus, which is $4 billion higher than what was expected in the 2019 Budget unveiled last May. It is also $2 billion higher than the actual surplus unveiled this time last year, and at a size that has not ...
Official Information Act figures released to NZME show there were 350 assaults on officers in the year to the end of June, 79 more than the year before. The increase in attacks have sparked calls for more legal protection for first responders to be enacted. The assaults included officers being ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
We're making progress on tackling the long-term challenges: from homelessness, to strengthening border security, to bringing banking back New Zealand's small towns. ...
Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones has backed the ambitious plan to move Auckland’s port to Northport, at Whangarei harbour, which he says will be the “King Kong of infrastructure”. The plan is part of the recommendations of a six-person independent working group, which has recommended the Ports of Auckland be ...
A six-member independent working group selected the option of moving Auckland’s port to Northport, in Whangarei, ahead of other options. In what could be New Zealand’s most ambitious infrastructure project yet, a major expansion of the Marsden Point port could happen within 15 years. The project, officially called the “Upper ...
The final Electricity Price Review recommended prohibiting prompt payment discounts but allowing “reasonable” late fees. The findings of this review was welcomed by the Coalition Government, but they hope companies will follow through with its recommendations without regulations needed to be passed. Meridian Energy had already stopped prompt payment discounts, ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi,will invest nearly $600,000 to ensure work opportunities for locals in Turangia and Whanganui, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “I’m pleased to announce the PGF ...
An export-led economy is one of New Zealand First’s key principles, and our commitment to achieving this is shown by the continuing skyrocketing demand for our beef and sheep meat exports. Beef + Lamb New Zealand's New Season Outlook 2019-20 report forecasts beef, lamb and mutton prices to lift from ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today in Gisborne an investment of $17.27m into bringing “world-leading” food-growing technology and the creation of more than 100 new jobs in the East Coast city. The funding comes from the Provincial Growth Fund, and included a $15 million loan to LeaderBrand, a ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development More than 100 people in Tairāwhiti’s Tolaga Bay will benefit from two employment initiatives supported by the Provincial Growth Fund, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson announced today. “Tolaga Bay is an incredibly tight-knit community, but one in ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is supporting Gisborne business Leaderbrand to produce salad vegetables year round and create more jobs in the Tairāwhiti region, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Our support for Leaderbrand will help them build large greenhouses ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has praised the promise by New Zealand’s biggest banks not to close any provincial branches while the Coalition Government trials regional banking hubs across the country. The Minister said the announce was the “first sign of hope for regional communities”, many of which have ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have delivered an upgrade of the SuperGold Card website and a new smartphone app, which will help unlock the full benefits of the SuperGold Card for 750,000 New Zealand seniors.Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters, ...
Delivering a key election campaign promise, New Zealand First is proud to have accomplished a long overdue upgrade of the SuperGold Card today. At an event in Auckland, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters joined Minister for Seniors Hon. Tracey Martin in unveiling the new website and smartphone app which ...
Another busy week, from speaking with world leaders on the world stage about climate change, to equipping our school leavers with everything they need to get ahead in life. ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says Air New Zealand has "an obligation to look after Kiwis", and urged the national carrier not to hike up their prices after Jetstar airline announced their withdrawal from regional flights this week. The Provincial Champion also expressed his disappointment at Jetstar’s decision on ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will help fund a new dredge for the Port of Greymouth to ensure the regional fishing fleet have a reliable and productive harbour, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today “Last year the movements of ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
"Let’s start by acknowledging that it has been a huge year. " Police Association Annual Conference James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou katoa. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill; Members of the Association and ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark have announced the New Zealand Government’s decision to again deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. New ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand continues to have serious concerns for peace and stability in north-east Syria. “Recent reports that hundreds of ISIS-affiliated families have fled from a camp are deeply concerning from a humanitarian and security perspective”, Mr Peters says. “While we acknowledge Turkey’s domestic security ...
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is warning travelling Kiwis to be vigilant as the high-season for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is under way. “We’re on high alert to stop BMSB arriving in NZ. The high season runs until April 30 and we’ve strengthened our measures to stop stink ...
The Government is moving swiftly to change the law to improve the welfare and pastoral care of students living in university halls of residence and other tertiary hostels. Cabinet has agreed to several changes, including creating a new mandatory Code of Practice that sets out the duty of pastoral care ...
The Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage has launched a new comprehensive trapping guide for community trappers to help them protect our native birds, plants and other wildlife, at Zealandia in Wellington today. ‘A practical guide to trapping’, has been developed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and was launched during ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices ...
The Government has approved the next stage of a major redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which will deliver new and improved facilities for patients. Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced details of a $300 million dollar project to build a new East Wing at the New Plymouth hospital. It ...
Extra funding will allow Rural Support Trusts to help farming families, says Minister for Rural Communities and Agriculture Damien O’Connor. “I know that rural families are worried about some of the challenges facing them, including the ongoing uncertainty created by the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. “Those concerns sit alongside ongoing worries ...
Thank you for the opportunity to be here to present certificates to the 16 graduates who have completed a beekeeping course delivered by the Howard League. Let us start by acknowledging Auckland Prison’s Deputy Prison Director Tom Sherlock, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner of Corrections Northern Region Scott Walker - ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson leaves this weekend to attend the APEC Finance Ministers meeting in Santiago, Chile. Discussions between APEC Finance Ministers at the meeting will include the effects of the current global economic uncertainty, risks for APEC economies and sustainable development of the region. While at APEC Grant Robertson ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says for Pacific people, language can be a source of strength. It can help ground us and give us confidence. When we speak them, our languages provide us with an immediate and intimate access to our identity and our story - and ...
The Coalition Government has announced an action plan to improve the wellbeing of disabled New Zealanders by addressing inequalities in play, active recreation and sport. The initiative includes training to develop a workforce that understands the needs of children and young people with a range of impairments, advocacy for fit ...
The construction sector is being freed up to allow more homes to be built more quickly as the Government cuts through some of the red tape of the Building Act. “Every New Zealander deserves a warm, dry, safe home and old inefficiencies in the Building Act make building slow and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed further details on the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to New Zealand next month. Their Royal Highnesses will visit New Zealand from 17-23 November – their third joint visit to New Zealand and first in four years. They arrive in Auckland ...
Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, heads to Thailand today to attend the final Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial meeting, as negotiations enter their final stages. “The RCEP Agreement would anchor New Zealand in a regional agreement that covers 16 countries, ...
Pacific young people living in the Hawke’s Bay, Southland and Otago regions will have access to support services that have proved successful in helping young people find new earning and learning opportunities. “Tupu Aotearoa is about changing Pacific young peoples’ lives. Our young people are talented, they are smart, they ...
Introduction As the Minister for ACC I thank you all for the work that you do supporting New Zealanders in their literally most vulnerable moments. From those who hold people’s lives in their hands, to the people who research technique, technology and trends, your work is highly valued. A special ...
Notes prepared for speeches in Christchurch – Wednesday 9 October 2019 Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There ...
Minister of Health Dr David Clark and Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare say this year’s World Mental Health Day theme is a reminder of why the Government’s work on mental health is so important. “This year the World Federation for Mental Health has made suicide prevention the main theme ...
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni will represent the government at Australia’s Meeting of Cultural Ministers in Adelaide this week. “This year’s meeting is special because New Zealand is expected to become an International Member of the Meeting of Cultural Ministers at this Australian forum,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “The meeting is an opportunity to ...
The Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service has resolved 608 insurance and EQC claims in its first year in operation, Minister Megan Woods has announced. The government service, which celebrates its first birthday today, provides a one stop shop to help Cantabrians still battling to get their homes repaired or rebuilt ...
Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There has been an increasing amount of attention paid to the outlook ...
The Government is acting swiftly to strengthen NZTA’s regulatory role following a review into the Transport Agency, and Ministry of Transport’s performance as its monitor, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. An independent review by Martin Jenkins has found NZTA failed to properly regulate the transport sector under the previous ...
The Netherlands and New Zealand have a long-standing and close relationship based on many shared interests and values. We value the rule of law, our democracies, and multilateralism. And we value our environment – at home and globally. Right now there are major global challenges in all of these areas – ...
The Government is putting right a decade’s worth of underpayment to nurses, doctors and other health workers, says Health Minister Dr David Clark. Initial sampling of District Health Boards payroll records has found that around $550-$650 million is owed to DHB staff to comply with the Holidays Act. It’s expected ...
A strong surplus and low debt show the economy is performing well, and means the Government is in a good position to meet the challenges of global economic uncertainty. “The surplus and low levels of debt show the economy is in good shape. This allows the Government to spend more ...
New applications from mining company OceanaGold to purchase land in Waihi for new tailings ponds associated with its gold mines have been approved. Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Associate Minister of Finance David Parker considered the applications under the Overseas Investment Act. Earlier this year, applications from OceanaGold to ...
New Zealanders in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay will witness Māori, Pākehā and Pacific voyaging traditions come together today as the Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla assembles for the first time, Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Minister Kelvin Davis says. “Tuia 250 is a national commemoration and an opportunity for honest conversations ...
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker leaves tomorrow for Dubai, London and Berlin for a series of meetings to advance New Zealand’s trade interests. In Dubai he will visit New Zealand’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 where construction is underway. There he will meet Minister of State for International Cooperation, Her ...
Confirmation that PHARMAC will fund two new cancer drugs is further evidence of the good progress the Government is making to improve the treatment of New Zealand’s leading cause of death, Health Minister David Clark says. From 1 December PHARMAC will fund alectinib (Alecensa) for ALK positive advanced non-small cell ...
An additional $2.7 million has been announced for the Government Strategy for Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation on the first anniversary of the strategy’s launch. Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson gave the opening address to the first Sport NZ Women + Girls Summit in Wellington today, ...
As part of its work to ensure businesses can get the skilled workers they need, the Coalition Government is re-opening and re-setting the Parent Category visa programme, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. The move will: support skilled migrants who help fill New Zealand’s skills gaps by providing a pathway for ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has today announced Major General Evan Williams of the New Zealand Defence Force has been selected as the commander of a significant, longstanding peacekeeping mission in the Middle East. In December, Major General Williams takes over as Force Commander for the Multinational Force and Observers ...
A record number of nurses are now working to deliver health services to New Zealanders as the Government’s increased funding and new initiatives rebuild key workforces start to show results, Health Minister Dr David Clark says. • 1458 more DHB nurses since the Government took office • 106 more midwives ...
Farmer and former Nuffield scholar Mel Poulton has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Minister for Trade and Export Growth, David Parker, and Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, announced today. The position supports key Government objectives, including raising the value of New Zealand agricultural goods and services. Mel is ...
New Zealand’s Pacific and Māori voyaging heritage is acknowledged and celebrated today as waka of the Tuia 250 voyage flotilla arrive in Tūranga / Gisborne. “Today we celebrate Tangata Whenua, the first people of Aotearoa, and the triumphs of the voyaging tradition that brought our ancestors here from Polynesia 1000 ...
“Fijian Language Week starts on Sunday and the theme reminds us how important it is that we each have something to anchor ourselves to, something that can help us pause and feel in control in a rapidly changing world,” says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. “Family, culture, faith, ...
The Government is establishing an Airspace Integration Trials Programme to support the safe testing and development of advanced unmanned aircraft and accelerate their integration into the aviation system, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods announced today. The Government will work with leading, innovative aviation industry partners to test and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The last PM shock jock Alan Jones slapped down was Jacinda Ardern. His language was particularly offensive, advertisers deserted his program and he apologised to New Zealand’s leader. But at least Ardern didn’t have to ...
By Michael Andrew and Sri Krishnamurthi The true story of one of the Pacific’s great waka builders and sailor has been captured in a stirring and visually gripping documentary. Loimata: The Sweetest Tears follows the final years of Ema Siope, a Samoan born kiwi who endured a tumultuous past ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Cowie, Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Around one-third of Australians living with hepatitis C have been cured in the last four years. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is ...
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Image AsiaPacificReport.nz/RNZ.Commentators across the political spectrum seem to agree – the Labour-led Government’s popularity is being damaged by its failure to deliver in Jacinda Ardern’s self-proclaimed “Year of Delivery”. Instead, the delivery of bad news to Labour and the Government has come in ...
Internet Service Providers have cautiously greeted the news that the Government is exploring an internet filter for violent extremist and terrorist content. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Polls Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern now dependent on Peters Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern still standing, but ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Austin, Professor UNSW Canberra Cyber, UNSW This is part of a new series looking at the national security challenges facing Australia, how our leaders are responding to them and how these measures are impacting society. Read other stories in the series ...
Researchers from Lincoln University are investigating how to use nanotechnology in agriculture to increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. ...
The increased presence of anti-trans and white supremacist stickers around the University of Auckland campus is proof that inaction is enabling hate groups, write Anisha Sankar and Max Whitehurst.Anisha Sankar is a Chennai-born, Te Awakairangi-raised, South Indian Tamil studying at the University of Auckland. Max Whitehurst is a transgender Pākehā ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Following the Christchurch mosque shootings, the New Zealand government’s first response was to ban the firearms the alleged gunman had used to murder 51 people. Seven months later, the second tranche of this process ...
The nine members for the next three year term of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) for Auckland have been appointed by the statutory Selection Body. Their appointments begin on 1 November 2019 and continue to 31 October 2022. Mana Whenua ...
“If we are truly to solve the challenge of poverty within the Te Ao Maori world we must lift our people from the low wage and low skills growth side of the economy. At the same time we must continue to ensure our people, no matter where they are, ...
Alex Casey asks Rose Stewart from Family Planning every single question she can think of about New Zealand’s new free IUDs. Listen up, womb-owners who love free shit and long-term contraceptive options: Pharmac announced that they will be fully funding two new long-lasting, reversible contraceptives in New Zealand from November 1, ...
Patients are increasingly being turned away for treatment and there can be no more excuses from the Government over properly funding district health boards to boost specialist numbers in public hospitals, says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the ...
Today’s Council of Trade Unions’ report, Fair Pay Agreements: A Framework for Fairness , provides a much-needed pathway to fair wages and conditions across several major industries, and the Government must deliver on its promise to introduce FPAs ...
The Speaker has limited the number of questions Simon Bridges can ask in the House as a punishment for the National Party defying Trevor Mallard by not pulling down their attack ads. ...
Sunshine capital? Check. Rich artisan tradition? Check. Incredible sausages? That’s a big check. We’ve put together a list of all you need to know before you explore the truly gorgeous Nelson region this summer. If you’ve got friends or relatives visiting Aotearoa, top of their list should be sorting out their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In the four years since the Paris climate agreement was adopted, countries have debated the fine print of how emissions reduction should be tracked and ...
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million. ...
In recent weeks Responsible Campers Association Incorporated (RCAi) has become involved in some high level discussions about our right to camp. This began out of discussion about the disabled who which to participate in Sport and Recreation activities. ...
In their quest for a cashless society the Japanese have beaten New Zealand to its own next-gen shopping experience.New Zealanders are missing out to the Japanese on a Kiwi technology that is set to eliminate supermarket queues.The first store to implement the SmartCart cashierless shopping system will be in Osaka, ...
If you don’t like Shortland Street, or you’re unconvinced that Michael Galvin actually is a doctor, does that mean all New Zealand television is rubbish? Some say yes. Tara Ward says an emphatic no. The world is our TV oyster, but lately it seems not everyone in Godzone is feeling the ...
The National Party is accusing the Immigration Minister of a "Sroubek 2.0" after revelations he granted residence to a man with multiple drink-driving convictions. ...
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu urges the Crown to ensure that the Establishment Board of the newly formed Institute of Skills and Technology meets its Treaty obligations and addresses the statutory role of iwi as Treaty partners in redesigning the education ...
The top-selling food magazine in New Zealand is closing its print operation. Niki Bezzant, Healthy Food Guide‘s former editor, reflects on the challenges the title faced.The news that after 14 years and 176 issues Healthy Food Guide magazine is closing its print operation came as a shock to some. It ...
A unique deal saw Sky buy the rugby rights and sell some of itself to NZ Rugby. Trevor McKewen breaks down what it all means.The news came thick and fast over a remarkable five-day corporate slugfest, starting last Thursday. First, Spark Sport struck, gobbling up New Zealand Cricket’s domestic broadcasting ...
In what’s thought to be the last piece of writing Peter Wells completed before he died, he wonders about his great-grandfather, and the locket he wore all his life. ‘The Story of a Locket’ is published in part here, and features in the extraordinary collection of essays Queer Objects, released this ...
Relationship expert Holly Dixon explains why the entire Married at First Sight franchise is based on bunk science.As the third MAFS NZ season has come to an end, I thought it relevant to answer the question upon which the entire MAFS enterprise is built: Is it possible to predict attraction and ...
SkyCity Casino workers will be on strike and picketing today as Rob Campbell, the Chair of SkyCity Casino talks to other employers about making pay fair at a “Wellbeing at Work” conference today. ...
He was the prototypical high school nerd, hanging on Don Brash’s every word. Then the financial world turned upside down. This is the story of how Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr became a most unconventional economist.In 2008, Jarrod Kerr was working at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia when the global financial crisis ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriela D’Souza, Affiliate, Monash department of business statistics and econometrics, Monash University For most people the second week in October probably doesn’t hold much promise. Longer days for some, perhaps. But for those is us in the economics profession, come the second ...
One of the important parameters of the agreement’s aims was to ensure there was no threat to food production from the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. ...
A monument to Winston Peters and Think Big projects would both boost the economy, but Argentina learned the hard way they can also impoverish a nation, writes Tony Burton.Everyone who loves New Zealand should visit Argentina. There are more similarities than you might think – large areas of wild natural ...
The Salvation Army foodbank in Waitakere ran out of food last week; an indication of the strain many New Zealand whanau are under as they struggle to afford the cost of living. Wednesday, October 16 is World Food Day, and as demand for services offered ...
Phil Goff was re-elected by a huge margin on Saturday. How will he put that mandate to use this term? Hayden Donnell asks the questions.Phil Goff is once again Auckland’s mayor. Preliminary local election results show him with a lead of nearly 100,000 votes over his nearest challenger, John Tamihere. ...
Catherine Bindon from Ban the Boom has created these colourful and positive posters for you to use to show you don't support the use of fireworks in your neighbourhood over the next few weeks distressing our animals and birds. ...
On Tuesday morning the Operation Burnham inquiry hearing resumed after it was suspended three weeks ago. The hearing is being held at Royal Society of New Zealand, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon, Wellington on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Ellerton, Lecturer in Critical Thinking; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland It’s not uncommon for science and religion to be framed as two opposing forces. The Catholic church has famously struggled to accommodate scientific research in its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cat Pausé, Senior Lecturer in Human Development, Massey University The British Psychological Society is calling for changes for how we talk about fatness, suggesting we should no longer use the phrase “obese people”, but instead, “people with obesity” or “people living with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University The federal government’s much-vaunted Snowy Hydro expansion is supposed to smooth out the bumps in electricity supply as Australia transitions to renewables. But not only is the project a bad deal for taxpayers, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By María Yanotti, Lecturer of Economics and Finance Tasmanian School of Business & Economics, University of Tasmania The housing market is moving again. In the past month, national prices have climbed 0.9%. What matters most to buyers (and especially to investors), along with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Principal Fellow (Hon), Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, University of Melbourne It seems appropriate that a painting titled Feng Shui dominates the new exhibition of Guan Wei’s work ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Matthews, Lecturer in Digital Media and Popular Culture Researcher, Auckland University of Technology According to a recent study, the sixth leading cause of death for young men in the United States is the warranted and unwarranted use of police force. With ...
The Council of Trade Unions has today released its report - Fair Pay Agreements: A Framework for Fairness . The report details the six key principles needed for Fair Pay Agreements to deliver real change for working people, and democratic agreements ...
Too many New Zealanders endure poor working conditions in jobs that don’t pay enough and offer few opportunities for career progression, and the union movement is calling for change. ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the latest polls which show a drop in support for Labour are not a concern when it comes to forming a government. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: A pair of polls put pressure on the Labour Party, a wild night of weather in the North Island, and Shane Jones snapped brandishing a semi-automatic.Parliament resumes today after a fortnight recess, and MPs were given a welcome-back present in ...
Mandy Hager, the newly elected head of the New Zealand Society of Authors, is lobbying the government to improve the lot of writers - to no avail, despite the Prime Minister's championing of the arts. ...
Given the vast impacts that poor diet have had on global health, a deficit in nutrition education in medicine represents a big problem, writes Dr Jennifer Crowley. ...
Any time Olympian Luuka Jones needs advice or encouragement in her pursuit of more canoe slalom success, she doesn’t have to look far. Jones’ coach, Campbell Walsh, is also her partner. ...
Competition for the rights to broadcast sports matches involving NZ’s top teams has produced a bonanza for the sporting bodies, forcing media companies to be a lot more innovative. ...
The Wellington suburb’s successful opposition to a proposed Bottle-O shows how the system is biased towards communities with the organisation, capacity and resources to protest effectively, says Jenesa Jeram.For those unfamiliar with Wellington geography, Khandallah is a Very Nice place to live (Aucklanders: think Remuera). So when it was reported ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Humphery-Jenner, Associate Professor of Finance, UNSW The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission conducted an inquiry into mortgage pricing as recently as last year. Now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has asked it to do another, broader one, in order to ensure the banks’ ...
Dr Bryce EdwardsThe results of the local government elections appear to show that New Zealanders are generally supportive of a more diverse range of representatives, having voted in greater numbers for candidates from traditionally under-represented groups. The elections have therefore modernised our councils in a small but very significant ...
The Inquiry has today published Minute No 21. This Minute sets out how the Inquiry intends to proceed given that the Attorney-General the Hon David Parker has agreed to extend the Inquiry’s reporting date by three months to 31 March 2020. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grace Skrzypiec, Senior Lecturer, Flinders University Many Australian students don’t know the difference between banter and bullying, with some saying they joke about wishing their friend would “drown” or “die in a car crash”. More than 800 Australian students aged 11-16 took ...
But he did play a crucial role in helping journeyman Andy Foster knock over Justin Lester. Team Gone By Lunchtime size up the local elections, gaze plaintively at the dramas in the NZ First Party, and ask how bad the new poll is for Jacinda Ardern.Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and ...
In the fifth episode of Actually Interesting, The Spinoff’s monthly podcast exploring the effect Artificial Intelligence has on our lives, Russell Brown speaks to Ben Reid, executive director of the AI Forum, about the role of government in embracing and regulating AI.Subscribe to Actually Interesting via iTunes or listen on the player below.To ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Local government Henry Cooke (Stuff): How to lose an election: Over-promise or under-deliver Simon Collins ...
By RNZ Pacific A Solomon Islands province has agreed to lease a large island to a Chinese developer to develop into a special economic zone, weeks after the country opened diplomatic ties with China. But already cracks abound; there has been no official announcement and the provincial premier says the ...
Open Mike 20/03/2017 
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I don’t suppose there are any protests planned for when John Key leaves Parliament. It would be great to give him a final hurray to let him know that a lot of people don’t like him. I don’t live in Wellington so couldn’t make it but it is a fine thought.
I also don’t think he is just disliked by the general population. He has unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people by passing the blame, particularly in the Public Service. They, their families and friends must know the truth when someone further down the chain of command has been the scapegoat for the actions of Key and his ministers.
He may have unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people. He may deserve a noisy send-off. (or better still a ‘Bugger off!’) I personally think he was a lying, weasly opportunist.
It’s a fact though that he was not disliked by the general population. Certainly not by any significant numbers.
Media assisted Key. Take this weeks Nation and Q&a, both had annoying stupid greying balding hacks on, no doubt paid by the 1% to go on TV and say annoyingly stupid things. Franks says Greens caused Aucklands Housing crisis, you know the Green party that constucted the stupid city, Key, and the ACT MP Hide who became local govt minister. Then on Q&a former ACT leader, the more balding one, says that not only should foregn buyers have no cultural concerns when shifting to a new different culture, but once here should total act without any community spirit, doubling down on how mney makes rich people invinsible invisible even to us general oiks. This is how Key got such an easy ride, dumb and stupid are merged and put into the media spotlight, just right, that it does not show. As long as the talking heads dont shift the shadows, insure the obvious lies aren’t not asked or answered, then the distraction is complete. everyone gets paid. Hey think about the Chinese tourists, how can they feel about bringing their monkey year child up on NZ milk, to NZ and feeling at home swimming in a shitty river like back home.
The dairy boom was a politicial Chinese need for milk and we all paid for it with farm debt, land misuse in conversions, overstocking and shiity rivers. No wonder NZ gets poorer, it grows and takes on all the risks and hands off the profits.
aerobubble,
You do realise that Q & A usually has a political scientist, plus a commentator from the left and the right; same with the Nation. As publicly funded political programmes I guess they naively think balance is important.
So it is no doubt really annoying for you to put with comment from the right as well as the left. Though Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation, certainly much less than National supporters think appropriate.
At least it gives you something to complain about.
Are you suggesting political scientists are all balanced?
“Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation.”
Must be a real bastard for him that there are traffic lights and speed limits restricting his freedom to choose.
The right by which you mean super individualists whose objective is to stymie the issue and keep systemic wealth unaccountable. Essentially false libertarians whose job is to hose down any issue. Any company that grows has growing pains, its essential those matrs are brought to the boardroom, inequality, low pay, high rents, por public transit, shitty rivers, etc are all met by these paid supposed libertarians with ad hom, distraction fed by mediator of some gen war. If the nats really thought these particular commentators are doing themselves any favors then sirely they deserve the now obvious joke. Trump, like them makes bald obvious untrue claims of greatness, how he’s great with the economyetc Facts are nAtional are woeful managers of the economy, who shorts their kids? Tax cuts coupled with taxing education, its decades of shoving future weath into the pile of present politicial expediancy.
And its all now coming back to bite. The ultra stupid savants of ACT are hardly credible rightwing commentators, just lousy socialists for the few.
Christ Wayne – you really are quite a naiive little wall flower aren’t you. And here’s me thinking you were the Brains of Britain with a wealth of experience.
No accounting for a closed mind, rote ‘learnings’ and ideology though I ‘spose.
Btw…..did you check out Matty boy this morning?. Someone’s obviously told him to try and be cool calm and collected. He ALMOST made it.
He was almost convincing. He certainly had Nick Smith and major friend Bill pegged (as to their mediocre intelligence, disguised by polly and spin speak).
It was probably Matty’s attempt at exercising a smidgeon of honesty (going forward).
Congratulations Matty – you almost made it.
But as for you Wayne – much as I tried to think otherwise, now I know you’re really just full of shit dressed up in the robes of academic rationalism and supposed experience.
You’ll go far (going forward). A+ with honours
And oh btw @ Wayne
Did you hear Nick Smith on Q+A or The Nation (both fairly feeble efforts at holding our political ‘representatives’ to account in a democratic nation state) say
“I did them the courtesy of meeting them in my office”.
??
It seems to me that Nick the faux has lost all notion of what his job is, what a functioning rep dem is, and the idea that he is a servant. (As of course were you and ilk if you could just get past your priviledges and swilling at the trough)
Historically, that’s the sort of arrogance that got the natives really really restless. Lucky we don’t really have a functioning mainstream media that picks up on those details – though as Dear Matty suggests – Nick Smith is managing to piss off people all on his own
Ah well it’s been about 4 hours and fuk all response from ‘The Wayne’.
My reason for not engaging in discussion in the past was more about the state of TS – whereas, it appears ‘The Wayne’s’ is more about a troll-like hit and run agenda in pursuit of his agenda and in the name of self preservation.
@The Wayne, and @The Nick Smith …… we know you present yourselves as the gorgeous voices of reason (going forward), and as the intelligensia of the Neshnool Party along with that bitter old queen from the Eastern suburbs trying to define High and Might (there’d be one or two Snots Porridge old boys along with a few polly bois that still have ushooooos).
(There are a few of them that set themselves apart from the feral leopard skins but who are publicly so-in-sync with the same publicly – for some – it hurts: IT REALLY HURTS)
Why do you keep at it @ Wayne? (It’s a genuine question).
Are you actually as thick as I suspect you might be and just riding on your past, or are you getting just an eeensie teeeensie little bit scared.
I think Matty Dear the Hooter could actually be correct, and that you, along with Nuk Smuff could actually be just a little bit FUK
Let me clarify @ Wayne
by which I mean you have the capacity for argument but not reason, ideology over issue, and a total lack of critical thought processes.
Polly wanna Cracker?
Wayne – you’re in ….compliant? ideologically comitted’ cultural? company. There’s a Hekia to ya roit, and a Crus to ya left. A part time feminist to ya roit, and a bitter old poof to ya left (even though he’d be too scared to move)
. And both sides protesting a high ground in a compliant and main stream media (check out that AM Show fukwit trying his hardest to cling to yoof and relevance for a start -and no ….. not the “Dunk”
A tuff on croim coward to ya roit, and probably half the fucking back bench asking where to point their tounges: should it be towards a Bling giving a thrill his wife yet never has – or ……. (And it’s a shame that so many are just a little bit ….. you know …. Nafe Goi).
Jesus! I sure as shit hope you’re getting value for the CT dollar, but I suspect (as do others in your politically defined bracket) your time is up and you’ll have to start dealing with the ushooooze
Careful Bill, the head of that pin could get awfully small very fast….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/90610222/no-charge-put-on-water-before-the-election-because-its-too-hard–bill-english
I don’t see what’s so hard about the ownership side, there’s no issues around petroleum and minerals, only contentious bit there is the price.
Why not set up a trust to own the water and use the funds to clean and maintain our water assets for future generations
Listening to PM Bill English saying they will do something after the election on RNZ was laughable. So I signed this latest petition 🙂
https://www.change.org/p/environment-minister-nick-smith-stop-multinational-corporations-exporting-kiwis-artesian-water-without-paying-a-royalty/u/19756904
Its hard? Could be he has a lots of super rich people breathing down his neck, who are entitled to not pay tax, not pay tarriffs, not be concern for local culture, community or environment needs, and wealth for then is a pissing contest, as they cant take it with them, they find the only purpose to life is to piss highest up the wealth pole.
Put a tax on how far pottable water is transported, including bottled. People should live close to water storage, like they live close to food, transport, work, as it saves energy.
“too hard”
That’s the theme this year, National, the too hard govt.
Agree weka, and Election hoardings will read- “Vote National for a too hard future.”
lol, we should definitely do some memes here on that.
National Party rep: The beatings will continue until morale improves
Noted. Wealthy people change nothing, nothing to see types, its so good, its never been better… …oh and bring back beatings for kids. Yeah, they hven’t ben holding back Northland with thei ineffective neolib fantasy of leaving it to the market, no not them, that stress out families, working two jobs, never able to communicate values to their kids.
At a supermarket near you.
@absurdistwords on anti-blackness in media and advertising
New Zealand, in my considered opinion, is and has been riddled with endemic and entrenched corruption for decades.
The ‘commercialise – corporatise -PRIVATISE Neo – liberal Rogernomics’ model, locally, nationally and internationally, promoted and enforced the contracting out of public services that used to be provided ‘in house’ by central and local government.
The ‘Rogernomics RORT’ was based upon the unsubstantiated myth and mantra
‘PUBLIC IS BAD – PRIVATE IS GOOD’.
That public service provision, under the genuine non-commercialised (not for profit) public service model was supposedly ‘inefficient’.
‘Inefficient’ in my view, was corporate-speak for ‘we haven’t yet got our filthy hands on it’.
The NZ Business Round Table (made up of CEOs of NZ BIG business) who both vigorously promoted and directly benefited from the Rogernomics reforms which served their vested interests – focused on a form of ‘grand’ corruption which most New Zealanders have never even heard of.
STATE CAPTURE – where vested interests get their way at the POLICY level, to get laws passed which serve their vested interests.
Where do you look to find STATE CAPTURE in New Zealand?
Look at the Regulatory Impact Statements that are produced before proposed law changes go to Cabinet.
Look at those with whom the ‘policy analysts’ have consulted.
That’s how this form of endemic ‘grand’ corruption has been carried out for decades in this corrupt, polluted tax haven, falsely and misleadingly marketed as ‘clean, green New Zealand’.
What a total CROCK.
The answer?
In my considered opinion ?
Open the books.
Cut out the contractors.
Return public services to ‘in house’ provision under the public service model.
Penny Bright
Proven ‘anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog’
Fletcher Building taking a massive hit, probably on just a couple of jobs: Sky City and Christchurch.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11821548
Really bad case of overreach.
Near-monopoly meets near-monopsony in a small coutnry; who’d’ve thought there’d be tears before bedtime?
Bruce has got a great idea, the natural world doesn’t like the west coast or people very much so the plan is to export the natural world to China. Genius!
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/03/water-from-mt-aspiring-in-the-south-island-set-to-be-shipped-overseas.html
This is a great boost for the West Coast, S.I. NZ The locals think it’s all right.
Yeah, a good idea we’ve got plenty of it heh heh, says Fred Dagg, a local.
I’ll become a supplier, wear one of those heavy waterproof coats and a hat with a rim and catch the flow in a container at the hem. The way it rains here I’ll be a millionaire in ten years. They are short of water in the world but we will always have plenty to spare. Great idea, need some business and new people to boost house prices here.
Another organic farmer, 2% up 98% to go. Come on you farmers that care about the land and doing a good job, not just screwing every last drop out of your properties – Don’t Drop-Prop!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/90617108/heriot-farmer-encourages-others-to-go-organic
Does anyone know the percentage into organics of all NZ farmers?
Great news. Today’s farmers have a new idea – they are putting in water troughs like NZ farms always used to have. However the energy being used as of now to move the water is not provided by solar, so they are really starting with an old model which would probably have been gravity-fed and adding old technology to it. Hey guys and girls there are things that have been discovered since then – solar, and of course there is the ancient method of windmills that have been updated. So much to learn, it’s a problem.
Up-front capital costs included pipes, troughs and tanks, as well as fences and additional stock. Running costs were fuel or electricity, insurance, as well as additional fertiliser and extra supplementary feed.
Manawatu AgFirst consultant Erica van Reenen said list “significant” benefits. “Such as increased subdivision, better grazing management, an increase in the number of stock run, and more sold prime rather than as store stock.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/90520128/water-troughs-bring-big-gains-for-hill-country-farmers
It takes a very switched on farmer to farm the organic way , there have been some horror stories about animals suffering under people that have tried and failed.
Thanks bwaghorn
I have heard it is hard. I note that the farmer in the NZ Farmer article said you have to do it in stages.
It’s not hard technically. Organics is just another set of skills and approaches (although I think you probably do need to have the philosophy clear in your own head too). I can’t see how it would be any harder than switching from sheep to industrial dairying for instance.
The problem is that the huge infrastructure that exists to support farming doesn’t support organics very well. Banks, farm advisors, support organisations, govt research etc are still massively weighted towards industrial and conventional farming. Not to mention supply line issues. Farm debt is a big one too from what I understand. Banks are less likely to lend to operations they don’t understand and perceive as risky. Risk assessment being affected by all that other weighting.
we’ve breed sheep and cattle for at least 50 years using all manner of potions to keep them safe ,they have no natural resistance , the most successful ones i’ve heard of have two blocks ,one organic one not so they can transfer the weaker stock that need help to the chemical farm
Are you saying that parasite management is the stumbling block?
People raised sheep and other stock for thousands of years before the invention of chemical farming 😉
yep that would be the biggy , some ram breeders are working on worm resistance , as drench resistance is becoming more of a problem we may be forced to go drench free at some point down the track, unless they come up with a new one.
fly strike would be a hard one too, and with things getting warmer that is a problem that will only grow. on the bright side the new dips are a lot less toxic than the old ones
are old breeds more resistant? e.g. pre-WW2?
Vaccines have been the saviour of us and animals though.
I read in a series of novels set in the 18th century that there had been a bad cattle plague. It certainly was a doozy.
Wikipedia:
Cattle plagues recurred throughout history, often accompanying wars and military campaigns. They hit Europe especially hard in the 18th century, with three long panzootics which, although varying in intensity and duration from region to region, took place in the periods of 1709–1720, 1742–1760, and 1768–1786.[14]
There was a major outbreak covering the whole of Britain in 1865/66. Later in history, an outbreak in the 1890s killed 80 to 90% of all cattle in southern Africa, as well as in the Horn of Africa. Sir Arnold Theiler was instrumental in developing a vaccine that curbed the epizootic. More recently, a rinderpest outbreak raged across much of Africa in 1982–1984, costing at least an estimated US$500 million in stock losses.
But good news!
On 14 October 2010, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that field activities in the decades-long, worldwide campaign to eradicate the disease were ending, paving the way for a formal declaration in June 2011 of the global eradication of rinderpest.[5]
On 25 May 2011, the World Organisation for Animal Health announced the free status of the last eight countries not yet recognized (a total of 198 countries were now free of the disease), officially declaring the eradication of the disease.[6]
In June 2011, the United Nations FAO confirmed the disease was eradicated, making rinderpest only the second disease in history to be fully wiped out, following smallpox.[7]
In relation to Organic Dairy Farming the limited amount of supply was reduced further 2-3 years ago by incompetence (a particular manager) at a mid-management level in Fonterra when their dedicated group of organic suppliers around the Manawatu and Wanganui regions were told that their Organic premiums were going to cease and their organic milk would be pumped in with the regular milk supply.
After a couple of years many of the suppliers forwent their Organic status as the low payout meant their farms lost much of their profitability.
Role on a couple more years and the incompetent had been fired and then Fontera were begging for Organic supply again – not so easy to regain your organic status.
“there have been some horror stories about animals suffering under people that have tried and failed.”
Such as?
only anicdata but sheep dying in numbers from worms and fly strike.
How many farms? That sounds like someone who doesn’t know what they are doing rather than being about organics. What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?
”What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?”
a useless one and as there is no licence to farm there is no way of stopping his type,
although a bad outbreak can catch out even the good cockies.
did anyone read this? what do they make of it?
http://www.wakeupnz.net/link-dairy-farming-crohns-disease-nz/
“The reported incidence of Crohn’s disease in Canterbury, New Zealand has doubled over the past decade, crowning the region with the highest reported incidence globally. Scientists around the world believe environmental factors are contributing to this disconcerting rise. In this investigation, we present the research on a disease found primarily in dairy cattle called Johne’s disease, which has the same symptoms as Crohn’s disease and is recognised on over half of all dairy farms in New Zealand. If the MAP bacteria which causes the immune responses in dairy cattle is tested and found in our local drinking water supplies, our air and our dairy products, we could be facing a public health issue of massive proportions.
Johne’s (“Yo-nees”) disease is a contagious, chronic and sometimes fatal infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Johne’s disease is found primarily in agricultural ruminants such as cattle and sheep, and is an immune system response following MAP infection which leads to deteriorated bowels. This inability to process nutrients leads to the most obvious signs an animal may have contracted Johne’s such as weakening, weight loss and even death. Most animals are infected during the first months of their life, yet signs of the infection can take years to show.”
Sabine thanks for that heads up.
That is really interesting. And it might be one of those illnesses that faecal implants are able to help. I’ve heard Crohn’s is horrible. A real kick in the guts.
It sounds similar to leptospirosis, which is passed on from animals.
http://www.medicinenet.com/leptospirosis/page2.htm
What causes leptospirosis?
The cause of leptospirosis is bacteria, Leptospira interrogans, a Gram-negative spirochete (spiral-shaped bacteria). The bacteria infect many types of animals (many wild animals, rodents, dogs, cats, pigs, horses, cattle, for example) that subsequently contaminate water, lakes, rivers, soil, and crops when they urinate because the bacteria are present in urine.
The bacteria then infect humans when they invade through breaks in the skin or mucus membranes or when people ingest them. The bacteria multiply in the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Person-to-person transfer of this disease is rare.
That too leaves a person weaker and vulnerable to illness and seems chronic.
So on top of all the other factors which make dairy farming bad economically.
Now it would appear, that those with a predisposition to catching Crohn’s disease (which we have no idea of those numbers) are catching the disease because it is a zoonotic (transferable from animals to humans) in nature. And our dairy heard is full of the disease.
This national government, does nothing beyond short term – at the expense of the long term health of the population. What else will we learn that their shortsightedness has done to hurt the population I wonder.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/90610222/no-charge-put-on-water-before-the-election-because-its-too-hard–bill-english
”If the government put a charge on water it was inevitable Maori would make a claim and English said that would be “pretty hard to resolve”. ”
it’s all the maoris fault we can’t charge for water according to english
interesting.
we shifted house 8 weeks ago, but because of our chinese landlord not being here in nz and not having signed the form we must wait 31 working day for a time out and then we will be re-funded our bond.
Now luckily we are not too poor and moved into our own pad, so did not need the bond to be returned in time to pay for another bond (or pay back any advances from the bank).
I wonder how standard this is, how much interest people loose on their bond money, and how many overseas landlord make it hard fro people to get their money back.
Also, can someone explain to me why bond money that is held for years is refunded without interest?
the reason i am asking is simple, the government holds the bonds paid by people. It would be fair to assume that the money held is accruing interest. where does that interest go?
again boring but, in Germany the bond (kaution) is held in an savings account on behalf of the tenant by the landlord and when both parties sign to release the bond, the amount plus interest is paid back to the tenant as it is their money security to save keep the house/flat. Right?
http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t97250.html
“The fairest way to deal with the Kaution is to put it in a savings book. This is held in the tenants name, the landlord looks after the book. The cash can only be withdrawn when both parties sign at the end of the tenancy so landlord and tenant have to agree any deductions before either get the cash. This is called a Bankburgschaft. As it is a savings account it collects interest and the tenant will recieve this.”
Good point about the interest.
NYT Russia conspiracy “expert”
Health warning may contain nut.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39250257
Only response I can think of to that rubbish from the crazy Tory.
Another benefit of the intensive dairying in NZ
No doubt the scientist have got it all wrong just like the scientist who warn us about global warming sarc/
http://www.wakeupnz.net/link-dairy-farming-crohns-disease-nz/
A thoughtful piece by the President of the PPTA and a totally predictable reply by Alan Price – National Party’s Kaikohe Chair. “It’s abundantly clear that the last 32 years haven’t seen teachers wishing to turn back the clock. Unless Alan Price was willing to staff schools with National Party branch chairs and members of Family First, it’s hard to see how reintroducing corporal punishment could happen.” http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/327017/why-corporal-punishment-doesn't-work