Couldn’t sleep so went for a short drive around the Christchurch CBD at 2.30 am this morning, just for curiosity.
Usually the place is buzzing about this time on a ‘normal’ Saturday night/Sunday morning. Now the city is as dead!
Three hot spots, Victoria Street around the Casino, Hereford Street/Oxford Terrace and St. Asaph Street – hardly any people at all. Bars like Engineers closed, didn’t see one moving taxi and only four in the rank outside the Casino.
Some customers in The Rockpool, but seemed about only 1% of normal and few people along the Terrace.
Not much evidence of social distancing inside the bars, but I only glanced sideways as I drove slowly past.
Sure, the health impact of Covid-19 will be great, but the economic effects will last longer and be more intense, imho.
Not sure you have seen Dr. John Campbell’s daily videos.
They are a source of information and calm as we face the oncoming wave of COVID19.
I mention him because in this most recent video he despairs of the behaviour of some British and American people, who have partied and gone to pubs, despite the growing threat.
As he says; this literally means more deaths.
He emphasises we must learn from South Korea.
Test, trace, quarantine.
The Opposition seems to have learnt from their missteps of last week. Bridges hasn’t really been seen since his tone-deaf performance during Question Time last Tuesday and this morning it was Shadow Finance Minister Paul Goldsmith in the Sunday Star Times urging the government to really open the cheque book in the fight to rescue what remains of the economy. He specifically said that National will support whatever actions the government needs to take. A marked turnaround in approach.
The tone is different but the message is the same. I am not convinced that this is a “marked turnaround in approach”. In fact, I find the messaging more subtle and dangerous. Time will tell; one opinion piece is not enough.
Once I had to admit that John Key had done something right. I felt dirty for weeks afterwards but after a little self-flagellation and a conversation with a counsellor, I was able to work through it.
Now is not the time for division. I'm sure the usual program of partisan sniping can resume once we've navigated this particular hurdle.
It was less a resignation and more a rat leaving the sinking ship. "We're not going to pull off another one this election, and I'll be damned if I'm shackling myself to this doomed vessel… every man for himself!"
Heh! What over 70s get up to when in isolation. Found on Facebook.
"Newstalk ZB is being closed down for the duration of the Covid 19 threat because of causing moral panic through the spread of misinformation and unfounded extrapolation. Mike Hosking has shouldered responsibility for the close-down, saying that he has been under personal stress for some time. The above is not fact-based."
My Significant Other has introduced me to the ways of Op-Shopping, Hospice-Shopping, and the like.
Yesterday I discovered the recycling facility in Helensville, which is unseen from the road down a long driveway.
It was a total hive of activity yesterday. The carport of 20 was full, there were people milling through a rabbit-warren of the usual books, clothes, and household paraphernalia, but out in the yard was a series of alleyways with long lengths of native timber, an area where whole old houses were being dismembered and displayed like a big wreckers yard, and a whole shed full of bicycles from near-new to Choppers and Raleigh 20s.
It was like this was where the whole town actually hung out, instead of the shops.
As the mainstreet retail economy dies for a while, I suspect we're going to become a real recycling economy.
Busy busy with lots of really effective citizens co-operating but remember the 1 metre rule because otherwise it might end up being closed down as a source of infection-spread. This is hard to do I find. It has to be a deliberate rule I have to impose on myself. I feel well but….
The Seagull Centre is an award-winning, registered charitable trust and has been operating from the Thames site since 2004.
Operating as a social enterprise, the Seagull Centre is a community recycling and resource recovery facility generating revenue from the sale of goods and materials contributed by the local community. By diverting waste from landfill, the Seagull Centre is a self-funded operation providing local employment and affordable goods. The centre also provides education and training services on enviromental management and assisting training students into work. Where possible, the centre also contributes goods and grant funding to other organisations.
The Seagull Centre has gone through a major development to establish a Resource Recovery Park and will effectively be doubling operations to significantly increase it impact of waste diversion from landfill. A workshop is part of the expansion where donated goods can be reconditioned or upcycled for sale.
I visited the seagull centre quite recently and was supprized to see almostt no timber or corrogated iron very few old windows completely crap tools etc .I wondered if the good stuff was being siphoned off elsewhere ?.I did find a working toaster for five bucks tho !
I volunteer at an organic food co-op. We placed hand-sanitiser (tea tree-based) on a stand, with a politely-worded notice of instruction, at the entrance to the shop. 98% of people overcame their reluctance and used the "squirt-bottle". 2% did not. When asked, politely but firmly, by me to take the precaution "for all our sakes", some said, "I'm good" and left.
Many people walked by without stopping to read the notice (un-missable, I thought), provoking me to speak up. People are a curious beast. Awareness of surroundings is a variable phenomenon.
Edit: as of 4:30 yesterday, the shop is closed. Now, we are taking phone and email orders and delivering to those in need.
Indeed, but at the "coal-face" it's difficult for many people to "play hard" if the rules are variable. We had a constant stream of "visitors" through and some were not being clear about how long they'd been here in NZ. One particular Australian woman had arrived one day before the "self-isolate" declaration and was revelling in being free to go wherever she wanted to. She'd come over because she didn't want to be trapped in Australia. We sprayed and wiped like crazy as soon as she left. Not amused.
Personally, I favour the advice to have a hot drink regularly, to clear your mouth and throat of any lodged virus (flu or COVID) and anyone who has suffered hay fever in the past might know the method for "flushing" the nose with warm, salty water and how effective that is in doing what hot herb teas etc. does for your mouth.
I'm hearing similar stories from people dealing with the passing tourist traffic.
I pretty much at the point of I'd report tourists doing that. They have a phone line set up. She's technically not doing anything illegal, but in the absence of her communicating clearly that she understands the issues and is taking precautions I'd still want there to be a record of her and where she has been.
True, but I think most people in tourism will understand that it's not the accent that is the criteria but the touristy behaviour (people dealing with tourists a lot know how to figure out who are the tourists and who are the residents, because they have to do that all the time where they live).
Reporting is not a step I take lightly. Tourists are still a strong potential for community spread imo. That will lessen soon, but there's been too many stories now of tourists not taking the situation seriously. That's understandable because they're on holiday and may not be up to speed with what is going on, but they're also less in the loop of the social structures currently supporting the big changes needed.
Went for a coffee in St Clair about a month back and was taken for being a tourist. Was funny because I reckon I might have been in NZ longer than the life span of the barista.
Well, Bill, I've had over half a century of people asking me "where I'm from" even though I thought I have a very obvious Maaori/Pakeha ancestry. The issue, supposedly, is that my accent doesn't match my looks. A very subtle way of reminding people that they don't belong.
From my perspective, I consider that my accent does match my ancestry, for someone born and raised in NZ – this is the result. Your "never occurred", could mean that the question when made to you is genuine. Usually, for me, the question comes solely from Pakeha NZers – giving rise to the implication that someone with obvious Maori ancestry doesn't talk like that. That has been confirmed more than once by the follow up statement "Oh, you don't talk like a NZer", when I talk just like many other NZers. The reality is, they expected a different accent from the one they have. This – thankfully is not so prevalent now – but it still occurs, as one young person we had staying with us was asked several times in her place of work. Usually by older people.
Imagine how many of those NZers are asked where they come from because of their looks and their accent? I’m guessing non of them.
For the longest time I felt the same as Molly but it’s usually Uber drivers or co-workers doing it. Since they are from all over the place, it's just a natural question, so I try and be polite. Even though my family has been here for 5+ generations… people still think I’m “from” somewhere else. Really stupid, but reflective of 20+ years of scammy, dysfunctional immigration policy & demographic shock
It surprising, and interesting that most cases in NZ are from NZ residents returning with a few from tourists. There's been no cases popping up (YET) from tourism front liners.
Talking to other front liners in Queenstown everyone's got a personal story/stories of interactions with visitors with persistent dry coughs and / or looking feverish. These go from early March to present, especially in US and European markets. How we don't have many, many cases in Queenstown and all around the industry I don't understand.
Last week it was people who were saying they had been in the country for two weeks, but couldn't say where they had been. Then stories from visitors (US market) who said their tour had been cancelled and they had to find their own way home.
A neighbouring business owner came back from Sydney on 14th and got rounded up on Thursday and told he had to self isolate, was in a hell of a flap trying to find somewhere, bit tight in that area around town….
Other local phenomena are realestate signs sprouting on roadsides, and trailers loaded with household effects, cleared the flat and out of town. How this is going pan out if there is an outbreak here could be fun. Lots of people have lost jobs or had hours cut below survival in tourism / hospo.
Yet most of the cases are related to NZers coming home from overseas. The most common Queenstown link is from being the defacto regional airport, more / cheaper flights than Dunedin or Invercargill. Cruise ships figure more too.
I wonder if it's because the Chinese tourists stopped traveling so much early on? And other countries with high numbers also but a bit later. Some tourists probably went home early too. Would be interesting for someone to track cases leaving NZ and what happened on those flights, given how many tourists are here for a short time.
I'm hoping rents are going to drop in tourist towns. Maybe we're about to see a solution to the housing crisis too. All those Airbnb people wanting permanent tenants again.
I don't think we have much exposure to Hubai tourism wise, so missed out there, also the Chinese government pretty much banned overseas tour groups, late Jan I think. Here the virus is an American or European virus. Levels of awareness in those markets where non-existent.
Yeah, rents will drop here, but there will be NO work, so will be even more unaffordable.
As for the Airbnb lot, I know someone who borrowed 6 mill to build / buy a raft of properties for an Airbnb operation, ideally the properties are quite different to something you'd live in full time and their locations are more suited to that use. Was doing really well with it too. They're not very happy right now.
Housing problems here are demand driven, high rents when high demand and empty properties when there's no demand because there's no jobs.
But the time between high infections in those countries and us taking action was relatively short yeah?
Think we'll discover that the virus had been circulating in US and Europe for far longer than we think. The delay due to denial "its just a hoax" in the west, followed by the consequences of that delay might make the initial Chinese response actually pretty efficient.
Thank you Ed. We need daily patrols of the police and military pulling elderly off the streets for flouting the new rules. Elderly caught in public without ID should be sent back into isolation.
About people over 70, in the UK, as on Sunday 15th. I haven't found the update within the past week. UK Mar.15/20 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-5189587
Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'within weeks'
Every Briton over the age of 70 will be told "within the coming weeks" to stay at home for an extended period to protect themselves from coronavirus. When it happens, they will be asked to stay home for "a very long time", Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
The government is to release social distancing advice for elderly people on Monday – but they will not yet be asked to self-isolate for long periods. Mr Hancock said the over-70s and people with certain health conditions would soon be asked to self-isolate – but he did not say for how long.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show people without symptoms would still be able to visit older relatives and friends as long as they stayed 2m (6ft) away from them.
The health minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething, said it was "entirely possible" elderly people would be asked to self-isolate for long periods. "That shouldn't be a surprise," he added.
But the Scottish government said it had no plans to isolate the elderly, and would instead "ask them to reduce social contact". Jeane Freeman, Mr Hancock's counterpart in Scotland, said: "We don't want people who are elderly to be stuck in their homes alone not contacting anyone, with their families not able to be in touch with them and to help them.
.
And good idea for supermarkets – One called Iceland, it's apparently a brand name, in West Belfast is opening early for the older person. (Iceland, a supermarket brandname! Have they lost their identity to commercial interests as we have lost 'kiwi'?)
Older people have enjoyed dedicated shopping sessions at some supermarkets as the coronavirus outbreak causes more people to stock up on goods.Pensioners were able to shop at Iceland and Lidl stores before general admittance to the public. In west Belfast, the local Iceland store at the Kennedy Centre opened its doors for older people only at 8am.https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-17/older-people-enjoy-dedicated-shopping-sessions-at-supermarkets/
We're not under martial law. The announcement yesterday was a request not a mandate, and it wasn't a request to isolate in the way you are suggesting.
There are elderly people that still need to go out for food, they have no other way of getting it. They also need to get sunshine and fresh air and exercise to keep themselves healthy and to manage stress. They're not hurting anyone else by going outside so long as they follow the protocol. They should limit this, but it's not sensible to ban it.
Corona virus isn't airborne in the medical sense. At this stage elderly people aren't going to catch the virus so long as they don't have close contact with other people (2m distance, handwashing).
Please stop talking about locking people up. There are very good public health reasons to not do that at this stage.
My Mum's 76 this year and in frail health. I've told her to stay at home and call me if she needs anything. Countdown is still doing online shopping so I've had a stash of groceries delivered to her (I restrained myself and didn't buy 150 rolls of Purex 2-ply though) so hopefully, she'll be able to ride it out. I will confess to being a little concerned, however.
From this weekend, we are being told to self-isolate for 12 weeks, which takes me back to my teenage years, when my father banned me from leaving the house, after I took up with a boy on a motorbike.
The item was published on Tuesday, 17 March so it may have been written pre-weekend or refer to the weekend starting Saturday, 21 March. The writer makes her points succinctly. Apparently the very large Italian death toll, being found to be among the elderly, needs to be viewed dispassionately.
The Italian population has apparently a large population of very elderly. The elderly people dying there have been largely in the 80s whose bodies have been suffering the degeneration that happens towards the end of life. It has been pointed out that the indication that coronavirus is the cause, masks the fact that they have had multiple health problems which they have kept at bay for the time being, and coronavirus is just the last straw – not a virus striking at a healthy, unlucky citizen.
As the UK older says, give us over 65-70s a break and sensible guidelines that we are mature. wise and reliable enough to follow, please! And perhaps allow for Managed Demise for those in the older group, after certain legal steps have been followed, so we can go at our leisure with a plan probably for hearts and flowers, speeches, music, love etc. even if we have to be separated by a metre. It's called making the best of a bad job!
The most urgent concern for me at the moment is to prevent these kids – who've spent the past 4 months with their mother – suddenly being dumped on my Parents just in time for a 4 week (or just as likely 4 month) lockdown. Horrendous level of noise … like living under siege … 24/7 it'll be a living hell for them. High stress & sleep deprivation … just what two 90yos at high-risk of infection need to supress their immune system.
But this guy’s violence remains a major worry … and I'll need to make sure the Social Worker & Police supporting them remain closely in touch (just hope they don’t take time off work during the lockdown).
Are you serious? We haven't been put into enforced isolation and nor should we at this point. We've been asked to stay home and only venture out on necessary errands.
Trying to scapegoat the over 70s as senile old goats (and goatesses) who can't be trusted to act responsibly? How old are you?
I read Maui as being OTT witty. No more. Well, I hope so!
My old school mate living in Italy, who like me is 70 years old, says that in their restriction period they could be stopped by the police and had only two legitimate reasons for being outdoors off their premises. Who knows what powers the authorities will have in a phase three or four situation here in NZ?
Sorry auto capitalised, didn't proof read. Tired, grumpy, stressed, not as careful as I should be.
Even more so now that I've just got back the super where I couldn't get various things due to #*!@ing hoarders clearing out various product lines. Crazy
Also according to an RNZ report from Nelson Grey Power, many seniors don't have internet access, and aren't very up-to-date with current advice.
Having worked in Auckland libraries, I know there are some seniors, and some people not so old, who have an aversion to using the internet. Other oldies use it a lot.
But, also, some people on low incomes have relied on libraries for computer and internet access. Now Auckland Libraries are closed, so there will be quite a few people of all ages not getting online info.
Noticed that the library computers at our local branch are always being well – and sometimes inefficiently used.
The old system of radio relayed information would be worthwhile to implement and advertise during news programmes. Older citizens who are more likely to have no internet, are also probably more likely to have radios. I would think radios would be as informative, and perhaps more reassuring than watching the television to keep up with the latest updates.
Yes, the article also said that many seniors use radio, and that was an important info source for them. But, it also said some seniors were not well informed. Maybe it depends how often they listen to the radio, and the times they listen.
RNZ is adding public service announcements. Also on freeview TV channels there are sub titles/tickers with some Covid-19 updates – during movies, etc.
Counterproductive I would think. Stopping the elderly from walking, biking and other non contact recreation will probably kill more than coronavirus.
I think my 89 year old dad will go downhill fast without his daily bike ride.
The same is true for many younger people.
We are away sailing at present. Very easy way of avoiding people.
I think many people are starting to leave their politics outside the door because when it comes to the crunch it really is the last thing that matters.
It's rich of the Prime Minister to accuse the opposition of playing politics with Covid-19 when her government's own response to the crisis is dripping with it.
Heather Du Plessus Allan on HoS. It's premium so can't read the rest and wouldn't bother anyway. That woman is as clueless and classless as a headless chook yet she gets premium status.
At least the regulars like Audrey Young, Claire Trevett and co. are professional journalists and deserve premium status even if you don't agree with them.
I read it at the café, and it is as bad as you surmise. Towards the end she criticises Simon B as well. But it struck me that even if Jacinda had played a lower profile just as HdP recommends, she would now be penning something like:
"While the Govt. measures are not bad in themselves, the problem remains that there is an obvious vacuum of leadership at the top. Jacinda Ardern has been hardly to be seen, and still leaves us all with the impression that she is weak and vacuous."
If Heather Duplicitous-Allan was in charge, we'd all die. I'm fairly comfortable with Jacinda's approach. It's all "This is serious, kids!" without resorting to police-state "All citizens must obey curfew under penalty of bludgeoning!" which is nice. I think she knows you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. However, you can't legislate against human stupidity and selfishness. I don't envy her. I doubt she ever imagined she'd be confronted with anything like this in her lifetime.
So, come November, if the election goes ahead, Americans get to choose between a compulsive liar and a pathological liar. Great stuff.
At least Biden's 'on to it" – sent out a tweet asking that bailed out companies forego stock buy backs. Meanwhile, Trump has already banned stock buy backs in bail out legislation.
Please lets just get some reassurance from the maths in this most unwanted virus.
In Italy with 48000 notified cases in 60million population that is still less than 1 person in 1000 who has contracted it. Lets stop panicking our children, the vulnerable and of course the stupid 'preppers '.
Yes, it is nasty and we should take all nessecary precautions but we do need to keep it in proportion.
The death toll in Italy is a bit over the top but Italians are notoriously subversive when it comes to their governments and it appears that everyone who has died having Covid has been classified as having died from it by the medics, but the flu, emphysema and associated lung and heart disease numbers are way down on a normal year.
It may be just a way to " punish " the current government whatever iteration it happens to be this week.
…that is still less than 1 person in 1000 who has contracted it…
Thus far. This is estimated likely to infect 40 to 70% of the population, and the Italian health system is overwhelmed with only the cases they have already. Please take this seriously.
Weirdly Germany has had only 31 deaths from 14,000 infections; Italy's death rate is 40 times that of Germany. This is explained in part by this interesting article:
Germany's hospitals are prepared in a really interesting, and good, way. Hotels are being cleared and set up as ersatz-hospitals for the less critically ill non-Covid-19 patients, which clears beds in extant hospitals for Covid-19 patients.
BG, the primary reason for that is that Italy is a prime tourist destination and in some areas, such as Lombardy the reaction for isolation etc was not implemented or too late.
You will not believe this, but in Salzburg Austria, which is in quarantine and all shops, restaurants etc are closed, buses wit tourists arrive. How is this possible? Nobody can answer this. Please accept that this is not a racist comment but the majority of tourists come from China where the virus first broke out.
I think we need to be prepared for a similar scenario over 12 or more weeks. It takes discipline to see this through. I am not sure whether the god of money will let this happen so easily. The hoarders rampaging through supermarkets in the last couple of weeks are part of that. I feel that the current situation will show whether the human race is civilized. I wont hold my breath though.
dude, i am sorry for the negativity, but this a actual reality.
so ignore me, feel free. But don't deny reality. Look at it, because 624 people died yesterday in Italy, bringing the death toll of this disease in 1 MONTH to over 4000.
It's not an aversion to reality, most people here seem to have a strong grip on the handle of the mad/sane door, it's you losing the plot in a very public way, because you aren't getting what you want from the government, and for a week where one can set a watch by it, predictable as it is.
It may be cathartic for you to express your right to free speech in such an ignorant and depressing manner, but it can't be helping much as there appears to be no end to the daily spews.
[Pack it in with the abuse and bullshit labeling – this is a forum for people to express their thoughts, concerns and opinions.] -B
Well, bad thoughts, hoarding, and occasionaly mob violence.
There's a balance that needs to be had between the "it's not so bad, only .2% mortality rate" (which is still thousands of dead if half nz gets it, even if accurate) and the sort of messaging that empties supermarkets not because of any shortages but because the markets literally can't restock their shelves quickly enough.
Too far one way, people set up illegal roadblocks (and the next step is to arm the roadblock guards with firearms). Too far the other, the govt does fuckall then has to go straight to level 3 or 4 because they realise how badly they fucked up (UK).
Dr Baker's call for lockdown and testing makes much sense in the immediate …
"Baker, a professor at Otago University's Department of Public Health, wants "very intense social distancing for a period, maybe two to four weeks, while we're ramping up testing and then do a lot of testing and once the testing's done then we'll feel much more comfortable that we've got it under control".
"It's extremely inconvenient to do this but the alternative is we follow everywhere else in the world, excluding parts of Asia, towards a certain future of widespread transmission."
However what occurs when those two/four weeks are up and we have expended our current testing capacity?…and will we be able to obtain more of these resources in the world of rampant demand?
"Already, experts say, our testing regime risks being overwhelmed. In comment provided through the Science Media Centre, University of Otago Associate Professor James Ussher, Labtests director Gary McAuliffe and Canterbury DHB Dr Joshua Freeman say "diagnostic labs are really struggling to maintain testing capacity due to supply chain issues, which will be ongoing, as they are worldwide".
Bloomfield said on Wednesday there were 30,000 swab tests in the country for Covid-19."
At current testing rates (the past couple of days increased level) those kits will be used in 20 days and this pandemic is widely expected to run for months /years.
The politicians are earning their money with this one
I saw this last night and it made me so despairing (and I use that word sparingly) that at the moment I could not bring myself to safely repost it:
A photograph of an elderly woman “in tears” in front of empty shelves in a Melbourne supermarket has demonstrated the heartbreaking consequences of people's panic buying behaviour.
The picture was taken at midday on Thursday in the canned food aisle of the Port Melbourne Coles by Nine News journalist Seb Costello.
“This captures who is suffering from the me-first, unnecessary, trend of panic buying,” he wrote in a post shared to Twitter.
And the only people who can afford to hoard food are the ones with money.
People with no money often live day to day and shop day to day.
Would be appropriate to see supermarkets open to gold card holders (with limits on products) for the first hour of every day (would be super clean then too), the next hour for community service card holders and then everyone else.
Exactly. RNZ checkpoint interviewed some people at a supermarket. One woman, sounded like probably in her 40s, said she'd bought enough supplies to last for 6 weeks. You need the money, and a big freezer and pantry to store that amount of stuff.
The woman sounded quite matter of fact, and didn't seem to have any shame about such bulk buying.
That dedicated shopping time is already being offered by UK supermarkets.
I'd suggest a further step, and close shop for the purpose of restocking shelves. If the people who restock fall over….and (though I hate the damned things) go 100% self service and have the checkout staff redirected to shelf stocking too.
I live well out of town and shop every fortnight … It would not be great to come in and find I am short supplied by product limiting. You will have to re think the "rules" for limiting to make it possible for me to buy my groceries in one trip to town. .
Also, it seems to me that product limiting is per supermarket visit. So, what's to stop someone returning an hour later and buying more of the limited item; or 2 or more people from the same household each buying to the product limit at the same time?
When I come into town there is usually other things needed for the farm etc so I don,t want to have to return several times on the same day to get around product limitation, but yes, good idea take someone else along with me to pick up another ration of the limited stuff I need to fill my two weekly shopping list.
Where would you put the immune compromised shoppers?
I realise it is best for this group to stay home.
I would like more health information for some conditions in particular autoimmune disorders. I am not sure if this is immune compromised as often it is when the immune disorder is active when you feel the most unwell. The full blood count can jump around a bit.
Yes. I would express the same sentiment but framed from a slightly different angle; wealth itself is not the problem (after all who exactly is for poverty), but the irresponsible use of it.
Thursday midday I walked around with an empty trolley. No bread left. Almost no meat/chicken and other essential commodities. As I walked out… handed my empty trolley back to the manageress on duty… told her what I thought of the selfish shoppers coming in early and taking everything so that older and often disabled people missed out… asked that they start to ration out essential items. She told me she would be in touch with Countdown management.
That evening Countdown announced it would ration out essential products… open an hour early to re-stock all the shelves and close an hour early. I'm sure I was not the only upset customer around the country, and I can't thank the staff enough for how splendidly they have responded to the situation. They deserve a medal when this is over.
Good story, the supermarket staff must hate this more than any of us.
Supermarket management in NZ have been rather slow in getting on top of this. Here in Brisbane many of the big operators like Coles now have police or security staff at the checkouts to enforce limits.
But without clear rules it's hard to enforce; and no-one is going to like it when the govt is forced to act.
Security in supermarkets, who would have thought, but my kids mum was abused and threatened with physical assault while waiting in line, for standing "too close" to someone. My hope is the hoarders spend the next few weeks away from the supermarkets, as they have got their food, and leave the rest of us who are just shopping normally, in peace.
"My hope is the hoarders spend the next few weeks away from the supermarkets, as they have got their food, and leave the rest of us who are just shopping normally, in peace. "
Red, it's an important thing you raise. I hope this ok, but I removed the photo. I think the woman deserves her privacy. It's also going to be too hard to look at for many people who are already overwhelmed.
Hoping we can use this sad story to prompt discussion about actions people can take to stop people being left like this.
Well here is a good example of using the power of the internet for good:
A call to arms by a concerned Perth resident on the weekend has already attracted thousands of volunteers to assist nurses, doctors and others under strain from the burgeoning health crisis.
The Facebook page Adopt a Healthcare Worker encourages the public to adopt a frontline health worker and help them out with everything from shopping to cleaning their home.
This is where the 40-year long propaganda onslaught about people 'naturally' being "rational self-maximisers" leaves us – old ladies weeping in deserted aisles. Can we exhume Milton Friedman's corpse and stick his skull on a pike?
Well. If you expect over 70’s to self isolate for weeks, and others for two weeks, buying up in advance is not necessarily, selfish. It is necessary for many. One of Our local supermarkets has stopped online orders for a week, to catch up.
With little kids and elderly relatives at home, we are trying to keep two weeks ahead for 7 people, without buying too much at once. But then, we need to limit the amount of times we go shopping, as we don’t want to expose them to more than necessary.
Then there are elderly neighbours
we are offering to shop for, as well?
It's my understanding that only a small minority of people are in self-iso at present. Even if they all shopped up for two weeks I can't imagine their small numbers would strip supermarket shelves bare. And if you do need to shop in bulk for legit reasons, it might be a good idea to take some documentation to support this, otherwise everyone just turns up claiming they're shopping for 16 kids and a street full of relies.
If we wait for govt to act, it will be ration cards and all that comes with that.
What we are seeing is the end game of a society that has demanded nothing by 'rights' for generations. Which while these are fine and good things, every 'right' comes with an complementary obligation on someone else. We've allowed our conversation about 'responsibilities' to lag very far behind, and now we pay the price.
About 39 years ago, at a time and place pivotal in my life, I asked a question about the purpose of what we were doing, and the answer was "We are a people of duty". I thought it a bit dull at the time, but with time I understand it more and more.
That basic social contract from a citizen to the states of Australia or of New Zealand doesn't get pulled up with such a forceful tug too often. The most we rise to it usually is win a decent flood and we're all implored to pile up the sandbags together which then get reported n the TV news with warm bromides about community spirit.
We haven't had that called upon on a national scale in living memory – perhaps for those in their mid 80s who can still recall World War 2. That rules out 85% of us with no such understanding of deep social contract.
While we are figuring out what this new all-powerful all-subsidising state looks like, we have to address this spectacular growth in our state dependence is only possible because citizens will in future pay taxes to service the whole of the debt getting piled up.
That's a great moment for a new generation to write that societal contract anew.
Obviously there are people hoarding, who shouldn’t be.
Often the same people who already have too much, and could easily afford deliveries and inflated prices.
But. Expecting poor people to honour a “social contract” when they have experienced rich people dumping on them their entire lives, is a bit much.
Why do you expect them not to grab what they need ASAP, before it is priced out of reach, after the example of the well off, “there is no such thing as society” for the last 35 years. Expecting prices to rise beyound their reach, and the wealthy to grab everything, simply coincides with their lived experience for most of their lives.
After telling everyone for decades the greedy are superior people, you expect social cohesion?
And the right persists on having expectations of responsibility on poor people’s part, which would never be expected, of rich people.
There are reasons! Not excuses, why poor people cannot use their time and talents wisely. Being too hungry to learn at school is just one. Which I’ve seen, way too often.
Read up on the many research articles about what being poor and stressed, does to cognitive ability.
Thanks. It may just be a password issue. Tried my email address plus p/word. Then tried Carolyn_nth and CarolynS plus p/word – didn't try logging in via wordpress
Anyone care to give an idiots guide to the wage subsidies?
After hearing from a couple of business owners how they got money from the government, my boss is now toying with the idea of applying. The business will suffer a drop in revenue after the ban on gatherings of 100 or more, so will qualify on that basis. How does that affect me as an employee? Do I get made redundant? How do I get paid, through her or someone else? Do I have to sign on? etc. I only work 24pw, but that is classed as full time, do I receive the full subsidy of $585 (more than I get now) per worker or my regular wage? or does my boss get the full amount, pay my wages as usual, and get to keep anything extra if given by the government?
With level two here, I am, as an immune deficient diabetic, asked to stay at home like 70+ seniors, so what are my options regarding employment? It's a very confusing time to decide, or even know, the best course of action.
As an aside, my employer told me that with the minimum wage, I'll have to lose an hour per week to cover the raise. 🙄
Your boss can apply for wage subsidies for all of his staff that are on a regular wage.
Shit out of luck are self employed, gig'ers, etc that are on irregular income or are doing a draw out once a year.
But your boss should do this – if he can prove that he has had losses of at least 30%, he can revceive a subsidy for you for up to twelve weeks – this is my understanding – and this be a non refundable aid. it wont' be your full salary if you are above min wage as it only covers min wage. In saying that those that can apply for it should.
Thanks @Pat. On the phone now, but not really wanting to tie up the line for people with more pressing needs.
I did find that there is an isolation subsidy called the Leave Payment.
The COVID-19 leave payment will be paid at a flat rate of:
$585.80 to a person working 20 hours or more per week
$350.00 to a person working less than 20 hours per week.
Employers receiving the payment for employees who are required to self-isolate can receive it for 14 days. As people may be required to self-isolate more than once, employers will be able to apply for this on an ‘as needed’ basis. It can be paid for the entire period an employee is sick (or looking after a dependent person who is sick) with COVID-19 but the employer must apply every 14 days.
Your last question is important, I'm guessing there will be more info available this week. But on the face of it the MoH guidelines are not yet including people who are being told to stay home from yesterday (which isn't a self-isolation but a recommendation).
Just got off the winz hotline and still none the wiser, really, but thanked the operator from all of us anyway.
The way I see it is stay at home means just that, and even though I wasn't told I was eligible or not, to do that, the leave scheme is my only option other than quitting. Advice to talk to my boss about it is okay, but I know she'll expect me to work so she can get the in work payment and get my labour for free.
I guess it comes down to whether being told to stay at home trumps being told to go to work.
I am scheduled for a call from a nurse when they're free, though, for some reason I didn't quite catch why.
I will ask for her to apply for the leave scheme on a recurring basis until the alert advice has been removed, what happens from there is then her call. She will say I work alone and only have contact with her in the mornings and minimal to others, but she is still working (over 70 and a health risk) in a retail environment, and I work in all weathers, at high risk of seasonal weather and resulting sickness, weakening my system exponentially. All right in the sun, the wind and rain, not so much.
The nurse just rang me back and said I should tell my boss I've been advised to ask for her to apply for the leave scheme. If she doesn't comply, I'm to call MSD and let them know.
Don't know the details, but I do know an org that had a decent payment from govt in a few days of applying, so no interruption to payroll. Didn't seem to be too hard and took a chunk of stress away.
I had to work at a wedding yesterday, 75 people, one pm through after midnight, and a couple of guests told my boss how easy and quick it was to get the wage subsidy, so I can see why she's fully on board now, even if she wasn't when I told her about it last week.
If I weren't deemed higher risk, I'd be more than thankful for the 90 days job security – great initiative, but I'm not sure, with the alert advice, it's in my best interest long term.
taly on Saturday shut all non-essential factories after recording another record coronavirus toll that brought its fatalities to 4,825 — over a third of the world’s total and a grim reminder that the pandemic remains out of control.
“The decision taken by the government is to close down all productive activity throughout the territory that is not strictly necessary, crucial, indispensable, to guarantee us essential goods and services,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a dramatic late-night TV address.
The 55-year-old Italian leader stressed that groceries and pharmacies would remain open and did not spell out what “indispensable” companies were.
This ad really pissed me off! On Stuff, an ad for debt consolidation loans and a limited time offer of 12.99% p.a. on new loans of $20k or more. Under the circumstances, I’d call this unethicaladvertising. For obvious reasons, no link here 🙁
i got an email from the bank – i don't have any loans what so ever on my business – that they happily would lend me money for buisness continuency at a 1% discount. These fuckers just got money for free and they have the gall to do that.
In saying that, the government did nothing to prevent that either. Its not 'unethical advertising, its about the sum many small businesses like mine – businesses thad are not debt laden – to make it over then next 6 month i.e. cover leases, rates, building insurances, electricity, water. Overheads. For most of us that would be largly enough. We could shut, stay at home, and when life is going back to a new normal maybe pick up where we left.
it would allow us to pay creditors, most whom are local businesses – packaging, printing, web hosting, etc etc – and again it would help the landlords that have mortgages to service to continue to service their mortgages.
But as the Convid-19 bail out plan said as per the Spin Off, we are to talk to our 'financial advisors' or to our banks and when w have exhausted all of our means we can apply with Winz and be beneficiaries.
So don't blame the banks. They are doing what they were told to do by our Government.
Yes, I received a courtesy e-mail from my bank too. However, the ad is not for/from a bank but from a moneylender charging an eye-watering interest rate. People and businesses (SMEs) are struggling financially and it will get worse but they should not become easy prey for and fall victim to unscrupulous lenders. If I was ‘blaming’ anybody or anything, I was blaming Stuff for placing the ad.
everyone has bills to pay, stuff has, i have, the businesses in my town have. today i made enough moeny to pay one of my creidtors. Yei fucking me.
nevermind, that i and everyone else should be at home, trying to deprive the virus of hosts. Yet, here we go work, as the government can't be bothered to either by emergency degeree to stop predatory lending – and this is what i consider it, predatory, as most of us not on the government tit have no way of paying any loans back any time soon, or be prepared to offer no interst loans to us that we can start paying back once we have a new normal that allows people to work.
Stuff, has bills to pay so they allow for the ads that are paid for. I have bills to pay so I go to work – potentially getting infected myself, potentially infecting others, and it is just a shit show.
In the meantime, i have gone through liters of santizers, santizing down eftpos terminal, benches, shop surfaces after every single customer, the hand sanitzer by the door is slowly but surly coming to an end, delivering, taking online orders, hoping every day to just make enough to just pay one more bill. (And i have been doing that since February).
I am done putting the blame on capitalism, banks and so on and so forth, we have a government that can and should regulate, can and should use emergency decrees, can and should send checks to everyone, and i mean everyone, so that we are not going to have a country full of homeless, highly indebted people who will never ever be able to get themselves out of it.
I am wondering if the supermarket will finally give the vulnerable and over 70's a designated hour for shopping to protect them from possible infected other shoppers. The supermarkets are frenetic at the moment and in our particular area there doesn't seem to be any door control on keeping numbers down in the shop at any one time like clubs do with bouncers.
I have a daughter in the US and she said her partner aged 62 is shopping at a designated time in their Baltimore supermarket and she can't understand why this hasn't been implemented here. Hopefully this will come in and for front line staff and emergency workers who are so stressed right now. Right from the beginning a method of rationing should have been put in place. Two of everything in the long life section. It should have been policed hard and still should be in place. Leaving it to the goodwill of people is an exercise doomed to failure. People need to be instructed and steered in the right direction like road rules etc.
Now we over 70's have been obliged to isolate it is going to be even worse for food shopping. The click and collect and home deliveries will not be able to cover everybody so are we now going to be named and shamed if we dare to go out once a fortnight to stock up the pantry??
Meanwhile everybody look out for each other on this rocky ride ahead.
Yep. The home deliveries also need to be expanded, but that means more staff at supermarkets. And the cost of home deliveries will be too much for some seniors.
Younger bulk buying hoarders should hang their heads in shame. This has resulted in the restricted hours, which makes physical distancing harder.
"Leaving it to the goodwill of people" is a fine idea, but now it's proved a failure, it's time to impose rules. Funny you mention road rules, every time I drive I see people flout them, so maybe not a great analogy. As far as supermarkets and what you think they should do, ring the supermarket, email the company, don't wait for the govt, if people hassle the supermarkets enough they will do something.
I've sent 2 emails to Countdown – only supermarket in my area. First to ask them if they were going to expand their home delivery and PickUp options, and questioning the cost of deliveries now that 70yrs+ and health compromised people have been advised to stay at home.
The 2nd was to complain that I tried to place an order for home delivery and couldn't make it work – turns out their instructions are not good enough. A blank time/day slot does not mean it's available, need to find a slot that has "available" printed in it. So it means there were no "available" slots yesterday when I tried to place an order.
Our local P&S has a two of any item limit, enforced through the checkout, you try and scan three of one item and the red light comes on and it all stops. Evidently Countdown is the same. Stopped it all in it's tracks, shelves all as full as normal at 7 pm, and everyone relaxed.
They are also trolling the hoarders by putting lines that have been panic bought on good specials in prominent places shortly afterwards. You've had to walk around half a dozen pallets piled high with loo paper for the last week, right inside the door on a good price. They are going down, slowly. Same thing with canned tomatoes.
Saw a disturbing video in NZH this morning of a supermarket in Auckland earlier today (sorry can't find the article now to put up a link).
When the doors opened by what seemed like security guards, a never ending, snaking line of panic buying shoppers entered, young, old and in between. It seemed to go on and on and on forever with people packed close together, creating an extremely dangerous environment for virus spread, going against everything we have been advised what to and what not to do in public areas!
Ignorance, selfishness and greed to the extreme. I feel so ashamed to be part of the human race at times!
With queues of people not keeping 1 meter distance. Message is probably not getting through to many low income people and elderly. Some innovative communications required.
People are probably just scared as they see other countries locking down.
Prague, March 21 (CTK) – The data on the payment by bank cards assembled by the Czech technological group COVID19CZ last week have shown that 46 percent of returnees from Italy did not observe at least once the rules of the two-week quarantine, the server Seznam Zpravy said today.
On March 6, the government imposed the quarantine on the returnees from holiday in Italy in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.
For what it is worth, As we are in our seventies(in fact one in the eighties) My wife and I have started on an Excel spread sheet all our movements from last Wednesday when we had to go down to the "Why you're up her" We have isolated ourselves as Ardern has requested since yesterday (Sat 21st)
Simple to do as we have used our EFTPOS card and all the receipts give times and dates of any transaction and names of people who we have had dealings with. We have also listed others we know who we have come into contact with. If the worse comes to the worse our movements date & time are recorded and hopefully it will help to track others.
Nothing quite like the power to indefinitely detain your opponents without trial to make your problems go away.
The Justice Department has quietly asked Congress for the ability to ask chief judges to detain people indefinitely without trial during emergencies — part of a push for new powers that comes as the coronavirus spreads through the United States.
[…]
The proposal would also grant those top judges broad authority to pause court proceedings during emergencies. It would apply to “any statutes or rules of procedure otherwise affecting pre-arrest, post-arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial procedures in criminal and juvenile proceedings and all civil process and proceedings,” according to draft legislative language the department shared with Congress. In making the case for the change, the DOJ document wrote that individual judges can currently pause proceedings during emergencies, but that their proposal would make sure all judges in any particular district could handle emergencies “in a consistent manner.”
The request raised eyebrows because of its potential implications for habeas corpus –– the constitutional right to appear before a judge after arrest and seek release.
The Lagos State Government has warned against the unprescribed use of Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, as preventive or curative drug against the Coronavirus disease.
The warning is coming following the announcement of the United States President, Donald Trump, that the drug can now be used to treat Coronavirus.
The announcement has been countered by the country’s Food and Drug Administration, which said it had not approved the use of the drug for treatment against Coronavirus.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, warned residents to avoid consumption of Chloroquine without prescription, noting that it could cause more harm than good to their health.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a live broadcast also cautioned residents against panic-buying of Chloroquine drugs, foodstuff and other household items.
Russia, which has a population of 144 million, has reported just 199 coronavirus cases and some doctors have questioned how far the official data reflects reality, given what they say is the patchy nature and quality of testing.
A sharp spike in pneumonia cases in Moscow, Russia’s biggest transport hub and a city with a population of around 13 million, has further raised doubts.
“I have a feeling they (the authorities) are lying to us,” said Anastasia Vasilyeva, head of Russia’s Doctor’s Alliance trade union.
The government says its statistics are accurate however, and President Vladimir Putin has complained that Russia is being targeted by fake news to sow panic.
The number of cases of pneumonia, which can be caused by coronavirus, increased by 37 percent in Moscow year-on-year in January, according to Rosstat, Russia’s statistics agency.
The free to use online farmers market called Maker2U fast tracked to launch this week, in order to connect people and small businesses.
It does not seem to have got off the ground that much yet. they are asking small businesses to use their online ordering & their own home delivery services
http://www.fromthefarm.co.nz is also up and running for online buying … just needs more producers to start listing on it. It is totally free for buyers and sellers to use.
My asthmatic SO has received the work from home order. The IT knobs are arranging for some kit to be delivered, I've sorted a click and pick up grocery account, on the cusp of being at risk myself, and that's it, we're both home for the foreseeable.
I see over 3000 health professionals have begged the government to go to level 4 immediately. Seems sensible to me.
Btw, I cannot believe that Queenstown has few cases. Bars cafes thousands of folk in close contact with a very high tourist content. Not a living brain cell among the lot if them. It seems beyond belief that random tests are not being done there. The place should be shut down IMHO.
It’s something to take notice of, but there are policy issues beyond ICU capacity at work. How do we feed people if the country is in complete “stay at home… or else” quarantine? Hoarders will feel smug up until they need something and very few people are around to supply it.
NZ probably has some massive infrastructiure problems, not just with the health system – legacy of 3 decades of neoliberalism.
If NZ went straight to level 4, how would that be implemented? Martial Law?
I suspect the government is trying to lead the country there through steps, so people understand how and why. Some people still haven't got the message about social distancing and non-hoarding.
We are not an authoritarian state like countries that went early for lock down.
According to your links, the west coast one should be operational about now, and the chch one is fixing the shit that was badly done initially and not found until checks. Rather than too many managers, one seems to have been done properly and the other wasn't managed well enough.
Looking through that Level 3 is being brought in now. Moves to non face to face primary health care, and public facilities being closed, at least here in Queenstown.
Yeah there's a lot of crossover between mass gatherings restrictions and closing public facilities.Haven't looked around dunners too much lately, but I expect a lot of bars will have shut, too. 100 people or a metre radius around each punter wouldn't allow enough punters to open, pay topup or not.
A quick walk around Qtn yesterday most businesses were bleeding money, hospo and retail.
With the wording around the wage subsidy there's an imperative to keep staff employed, in a public facing situation this mightn't be the smartest right now.
Hospos that had punters there were a lot of goodbyes being said, others nearly more staff than punters, and all residents.
This is how I read it too. That it's about the logistics of shifting eventually to level four, and allow people time to adjust and prepare (mentally as well as practically).
Agree with you about so few cases in Queenstown, a minor miracle there. Part of it is few tourists in last couple of months and I think good luck around where they came from. Today the place was like the depths of the off season in the middle of May, very few about, just residents. Everyone is being very vigilant and unwell people have been got help.
The Hereford conference last week might have been the end of that by the looks.
Everyone is expecting the place to be shut very soon. There's been a lot of government people in town past week and the panic buying was jumped on very quickly and effectively. The consequences of advanced cases here doesn't bear thinking about, or in any small town in New Zealand for that matter. The nearest hospital in Invercargill is 2 hours away by road, or 30min by air, Dunedin is 40 min by air or 3 1/2 hours by road.
Wouldn't be surprised if we aren't Level 4 by the end of the week.
The more than two million people living in the blockaded Gaza strip in Palestine are being left to face the Coronavirus with hopelessly inadequate medical facilities and extreme overcrowding – conditions in which the virus will spread rapidly and devastatingly unless action is taken now.
The usual medical and public policy advice to Palestinians cannot hope to deal with this terrifying scenario. Health officials warn that if the virus enters Gaza, containment and treatment under the Israeli blockade will be nearly impossible.
Gaza’s hospitals are already unable to cope with “normal” medical situations. In March last year the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Mr. Jamie McGoldrick, reported on Gaza’s "chronic power outages, gaps in critical services, including mental health and psychosocial support, and shortages of essential medicines and supplies."
In similar vein the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem has reported that, even before coronavirus, Gaza’s barely functioning hospitals are dealing with the fallout from thousands of injuries which have resulted from murderous Israeli sniper fire on demonstrators in the ”Great March of Return” protests on the Gaza side of the security fence.
97% of all Gaza’s water is not fit to drink and Gazan hospitals don’t have enough clean water even for medical staff to wash safely. Simply calling on people to wash their hands regularly and keep social distances is a recipe for an unmitigated human catastrophe.
The situation is little better in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank where, as a result of Israeli’s brutal military occupation, medical facilities are also inadequate with serious shortages of basic medical equipment, trained personnel and essential medical supplies.
The looming human catastrophe is clear. When medically well supplied countries like Italy and South Korea have struggled to contain the virus there is no way the hospitals in Gaza or the occupied Palestinian territories will be able to cope.
Each year New Zealand votes at the United Nations for the end of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza.
It’s now critical for the government to back up those votes with effective political action. We urge you to put the welfare of Palestinians alongside concern for New Zealanders and speak out calling for Israel to end its blockade of Gaza and military occupation of the Palestinian territories and allow Palestinians to access the medical supplies and equipment they need to deal with this crisis.
SAN SALVADOR — El Salvador will take steps to limit the economic impact for people and businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak, including suspending charges for some services, the government said on Wednesday.
Salvadoran authorities have yet to detect any cases there, but the impoverished Central American country has closed its borders and is in a state of near lockdown as it attempts to prevent the virus from entering.
Finance Minister Nelson Fuentes told a news conference the measures would only apply to people or businesses affected by the outbreak, which has pummeled financial markets and upended life around the globe.
For a three-month period, affected parties will be exempt from payments for electricity, water, mortgages and personal loans, credit cards, telephones, cable and internet, among other services, Fuentes said.
Once the three months are up, payment of the charges accrued will be spread over two years, without risk of default or damage to creditworthiness. Nor will they face interest charges.
Just put new rubber on the mobility scooter, Satire Radials.
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“Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
Henry Ergas writes – When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision Michael Reddell writes – When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
Muriel Newman writes – Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
“The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
David Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
RNZ reports – It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
Buzz from the BeehiveTolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
Arawata Shane Arawata Shane had wandered long In the wild tangled hills of the West Coast. He came to a stop on the mighty range And looked down at the wide river flats. He breathed in the clean air, And he took in the shadows playing across The face of ...
SPECIAL REPORT:Islands Business in Suva Today is the 24th anniversary of renegade and failed businessman George Speight’s coup in 2000 Fiji. The elected coalition government headed by Mahendra Chaudhry, the first and only Indo-Fijian prime minister of Fiji, was held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days in the country’s ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist and Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific digital journalist Police have used tear gas and stun grenades on rioters at an airport near Nouméa as the chaos in New Caledonia stretched into its sixth day. Five people, including two police officers, have died and hundreds of ...
Asia Pacific ReportThe global human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on France to not “misuse” a crackdown in the ongoing unrest in the non-self-governing French Pacific territory of Kanaky New Caledonia in the wake of a controversial vote by the French Parliament to adopt a bill changing the territory’s ...
A major provider of school lunches fears the government's new $3 limit for most students will see them eating more pre-packaged and processed food. ...
The star of Dark City: The Cleaner takes us through his life in TV, including the VHS revolution and the John Campbell impression that started it all. Best known for his comedic roles, Cohen Holloway says he struggled at times to maintain the stone cold facade of serial killer on ...
David Hill remembers an old friend, who you’ve probably never heard of. My friend Doug never travelled; he had little interest in the world beyond his own tiny rural town. I’ve rarely known anyone who radiated such contentment. Doug (I’ll call him that) died in March. You won’t know him. ...
Some of the earliest photos of life in Aotearoa are on display at Auckland Museum right now – but the identities of some of the people in them are a mystery.What was it like to be one of the first people in New Zealand to have their photo taken? ...
Since its founding almost a decade ago, Featherston Booktown has grown into one of the country’s most interesting and idiosyncratic literary events. Erin Banks reports from the audience. “Come in, have you had lunch? I’m about to make a cheese toastie.” Mary Biggs, operations manager of Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival, ...
After 33 years abroad, Loveni Enari recently returned to Aotearoa and Samoa in what a friend joked was an “existential crisis”. He learnt and re-learnt so much about his family, friends and both countries. Almost as an afterthought, he got a Samoan tatau. This is his story. (Accompanying it are ...
Nearly 30 years ago, two people told me they’d killed a woman they knew. I thought the truth would come out, that others would tell it. In the end, I had to. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Fact: in 1995, Angela Blackmoore ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at the week and shines a light on some increasingly rare longform journalism. Mōrena and welcome to The Weekend where there will sadly be no aurora to see. After a busy week last week of short, sharp pieces, this week we swung the other way, ...
ANALYSIS:By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a revered Kanak visionary, was inspirational to indigenous Pacific political activists across Oceania, just like Tongan anthropologist and writer Epeli Hao’ofa was to cultural advocates. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1989 by an opponent within the independence movement during ...
Forget thin is in, apparently now bigger is better … or is it? After over a decade of body positivity, girls, teens and women are even more confused about what body positivity actually is. The movement began with women confronting unrealistic expectations of how their bodies should look. But sub-strands ...
Grace always sat at the bar at the back of The Cambridge, where she could watch who came in. A huge mirror ran the length of the pub, so you could sometimes watch people without them knowing. The mirror made the place seem a lot bigger than it really was. ...
MONDAY Sheriff Mark Mitchell rose at dawn. He had a long day’s ride ahead of him. He was headed for Waikeria. Waikeria! Even the name itself stirred his blood, and set root in his imagination. There was nothing and no one in Waikeria. But he would bend it to his ...
The first phase of the inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones finished this week, turning up plenty of revelations and few answers. But through all the confusion, heartbreak and antipathy on display, the simple fact at the heart of this case remains: if little Lachie’s body had ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Benjamin, Professor in Art History, University of Sydney “She’s no oil painting”. Those were the unkind words of a colleague commenting on the subject of Vincent Namatjira’s acrylic painting, Gina. Every one of the prominent Australians and cultural heroes in Namatjira’s ...
Government plans to require local councils hold a referendum on whether to have Māori wards breaches the Treaty of Waitangi, a Waitangi Tribunal report has found. ...
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Couldn’t sleep so went for a short drive around the Christchurch CBD at 2.30 am this morning, just for curiosity.
Usually the place is buzzing about this time on a ‘normal’ Saturday night/Sunday morning. Now the city is as dead!
Three hot spots, Victoria Street around the Casino, Hereford Street/Oxford Terrace and St. Asaph Street – hardly any people at all. Bars like Engineers closed, didn’t see one moving taxi and only four in the rank outside the Casino.
Some customers in The Rockpool, but seemed about only 1% of normal and few people along the Terrace.
Not much evidence of social distancing inside the bars, but I only glanced sideways as I drove slowly past.
Sure, the health impact of Covid-19 will be great, but the economic effects will last longer and be more intense, imho.
Welcome to the new ‘Great Depression.’
yep.
Bars would seem to be where cvid19 could be having plenty of transmission opportunities.
Some Bars all over the globe haven't seen much difference so we're our own worst enemy.
Bondi had to be closed yesterday as the sheeple gathered regardless… facepalm.
Not sure you have seen Dr. John Campbell’s daily videos.
They are a source of information and calm as we face the oncoming wave of COVID19.
I mention him because in this most recent video he despairs of the behaviour of some British and American people, who have partied and gone to pubs, despite the growing threat.
As he says; this literally means more deaths.
He emphasises we must learn from South Korea.
Test, trace, quarantine.
Time for lock down.
Try Chris Martensen at Peak Prosperity for a slicker presentation but along the same lines.
Thank you.
Yes I follow Chris Martensen as well.
Both are singing from the song sheet.
Case, case, cluster, cluster, boom.
Ardern is doing alright
Think I miss judged her.
Could lose a bit of the patronising in her speeches, but apart from that is holding up for it.
Nice one Chris T.
She is helped by the fact that the National "opposition" is so incompetent, and so poorly led.
Nobody is ‘helped’ by that, least of all the PM. The Opposition may want to learn the difference between holding to account and seeding discord.
The Opposition seems to have learnt from their missteps of last week. Bridges hasn’t really been seen since his tone-deaf performance during Question Time last Tuesday and this morning it was Shadow Finance Minister Paul Goldsmith in the Sunday Star Times urging the government to really open the cheque book in the fight to rescue what remains of the economy. He specifically said that National will support whatever actions the government needs to take. A marked turnaround in approach.
The tone is different but the message is the same. I am not convinced that this is a “marked turnaround in approach”. In fact, I find the messaging more subtle and dangerous. Time will tell; one opinion piece is not enough.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120474386/coronavirus-please-open-the-crowns-wallet-now-national-says-well-support-you
Not sure if it is led or advised how to portray their thing.
Either way Bridge's was just starting to look like a petulant arsehole
You'll still vote for him in September
That is an excellent distinction to make.
Just as an aside @Moz………
I know curmudgeonhood is a rite of passage but it really is so exceedingly common old chap.
I think they might have even developed a pill to combat it
Well done, Chris.
Once I had to admit that John Key had done something right. I felt dirty for weeks afterwards but after a little self-flagellation and a conversation with a counsellor, I was able to work through it.
Now is not the time for division. I'm sure the usual program of partisan sniping can resume once we've navigated this particular hurdle.
When he resigned?
It was less a resignation and more a rat leaving the sinking ship. "We're not going to pull off another one this election, and I'll be damned if I'm shackling myself to this doomed vessel… every man for himself!"
Good on you Chris T (2).
Heh! What over 70s get up to when in isolation. Found on Facebook.
"Newstalk ZB is being closed down for the duration of the Covid 19 threat because of causing moral panic through the spread of misinformation and unfounded extrapolation. Mike Hosking has shouldered responsibility for the close-down, saying that he has been under personal stress for some time. The above is not fact-based."
My Significant Other has introduced me to the ways of Op-Shopping, Hospice-Shopping, and the like.
Yesterday I discovered the recycling facility in Helensville, which is unseen from the road down a long driveway.
It was a total hive of activity yesterday. The carport of 20 was full, there were people milling through a rabbit-warren of the usual books, clothes, and household paraphernalia, but out in the yard was a series of alleyways with long lengths of native timber, an area where whole old houses were being dismembered and displayed like a big wreckers yard, and a whole shed full of bicycles from near-new to Choppers and Raleigh 20s.
It was like this was where the whole town actually hung out, instead of the shops.
As the mainstreet retail economy dies for a while, I suspect we're going to become a real recycling economy.
Damn!
One more person discovers the shops I have brought my whole wardrobe from since about the age of 17!
Leave some for me!
I think so too. Let's also remember that low income people have been relying on op shops for survival basics, and to discourage overbuying.
Busy busy with lots of really effective citizens co-operating but remember the 1 metre rule because otherwise it might end up being closed down as a source of infection-spread. This is hard to do I find. It has to be a deliberate rule I have to impose on myself. I feel well but….
Our local op shop has just closed due to infection concerns.
https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Our-Services/Rubbish-and-Recycling/Seagull-Centre-Thames/
I visited the seagull centre quite recently and was supprized to see almostt no timber or corrogated iron very few old windows completely crap tools etc .I wondered if the good stuff was being siphoned off elsewhere ?.I did find a working toaster for five bucks tho !
/
I volunteer at an organic food co-op. We placed hand-sanitiser (tea tree-based) on a stand, with a politely-worded notice of instruction, at the entrance to the shop. 98% of people overcame their reluctance and used the "squirt-bottle". 2% did not. When asked, politely but firmly, by me to take the precaution "for all our sakes", some said, "I'm good" and left.
Many people walked by without stopping to read the notice (un-missable, I thought), provoking me to speak up. People are a curious beast. Awareness of surroundings is a variable phenomenon.
Edit: as of 4:30 yesterday, the shop is closed. Now, we are taking phone and email orders and delivering to those in need.
The time for ‘please can you’ has passed.
We need decrees, enforcement and penalties.
We must learn from Singapore and China.
Indeed, but at the "coal-face" it's difficult for many people to "play hard" if the rules are variable. We had a constant stream of "visitors" through and some were not being clear about how long they'd been here in NZ. One particular Australian woman had arrived one day before the "self-isolate" declaration and was revelling in being free to go wherever she wanted to. She'd come over because she didn't want to be trapped in Australia. We sprayed and wiped like crazy as soon as she left. Not amused.
Personally, I favour the advice to have a hot drink regularly, to clear your mouth and throat of any lodged virus (flu or COVID) and anyone who has suffered hay fever in the past might know the method for "flushing" the nose with warm, salty water and how effective that is in doing what hot herb teas etc. does for your mouth.
I'm hearing similar stories from people dealing with the passing tourist traffic.
I pretty much at the point of I'd report tourists doing that. They have a phone line set up. She's technically not doing anything illegal, but in the absence of her communicating clearly that she understands the issues and is taking precautions I'd still want there to be a record of her and where she has been.
Just to say, I pity anyone who might pick up on my accent and think I 'deserve' policing.
True, but I think most people in tourism will understand that it's not the accent that is the criteria but the touristy behaviour (people dealing with tourists a lot know how to figure out who are the tourists and who are the residents, because they have to do that all the time where they live).
Reporting is not a step I take lightly. Tourists are still a strong potential for community spread imo. That will lessen soon, but there's been too many stories now of tourists not taking the situation seriously. That's understandable because they're on holiday and may not be up to speed with what is going on, but they're also less in the loop of the social structures currently supporting the big changes needed.
Went for a coffee in St Clair about a month back and was taken for being a tourist. Was funny because I reckon I might have been in NZ longer than the life span of the barista.
Well, Bill, I've had over half a century of people asking me "where I'm from" even though I thought I have a very obvious Maaori/Pakeha ancestry. The issue, supposedly, is that my accent doesn't match my looks. A very subtle way of reminding people that they don't belong.
That doesn't have to follow. My accent doesn't match my ancestry or where I come from … and I've had many people ask the same question over the years.
It never occurred to me that it could be some subtle 'microagressive othering'. People are just curious is how I read it.
These days I frame the question as “That accent is interesting, where is home for you?”
Good for you RL.
From my perspective, I consider that my accent does match my ancestry, for someone born and raised in NZ – this is the result. Your "never occurred", could mean that the question when made to you is genuine. Usually, for me, the question comes solely from Pakeha NZers – giving rise to the implication that someone with obvious Maori ancestry doesn't talk like that. That has been confirmed more than once by the follow up statement "Oh, you don't talk like a NZer", when I talk just like many other NZers. The reality is, they expected a different accent from the one they have. This – thankfully is not so prevalent now – but it still occurs, as one young person we had staying with us was asked several times in her place of work. Usually by older people.
Imagine how many of those NZers are asked where they come from because of their looks and their accent? I’m guessing non of them.
For the longest time I felt the same as Molly but it’s usually Uber drivers or co-workers doing it. Since they are from all over the place, it's just a natural question, so I try and be polite. Even though my family has been here for 5+ generations… people still think I’m “from” somewhere else. Really stupid, but reflective of 20+ years of scammy, dysfunctional immigration policy & demographic shock
All that needs to happen is they ask and you answer. No-one is suggesting reporting people on the basis of an accent.
It surprising, and interesting that most cases in NZ are from NZ residents returning with a few from tourists. There's been no cases popping up (YET) from tourism front liners.
Talking to other front liners in Queenstown everyone's got a personal story/stories of interactions with visitors with persistent dry coughs and / or looking feverish. These go from early March to present, especially in US and European markets. How we don't have many, many cases in Queenstown and all around the industry I don't understand.
Last week it was people who were saying they had been in the country for two weeks, but couldn't say where they had been. Then stories from visitors (US market) who said their tour had been cancelled and they had to find their own way home.
A neighbouring business owner came back from Sydney on 14th and got rounded up on Thursday and told he had to self isolate, was in a hell of a flap trying to find somewhere, bit tight in that area around town….
Other local phenomena are realestate signs sprouting on roadsides, and trailers loaded with household effects, cleared the flat and out of town. How this is going pan out if there is an outbreak here could be fun. Lots of people have lost jobs or had hours cut below survival in tourism / hospo.
Hot-spot, Q-town!
Can't imagine a better Petri dish! Spilling over into Riverton, naturally, but no-one's exempt from the instinct to gather until the last moment…
Yet most of the cases are related to NZers coming home from overseas. The most common Queenstown link is from being the defacto regional airport, more / cheaper flights than Dunedin or Invercargill. Cruise ships figure more too.
The cases from the Hereford conference are a worry, there were some sick puppies around that week. They also went on an extensive tour of the lower South Island.
I wonder if it's because the Chinese tourists stopped traveling so much early on? And other countries with high numbers also but a bit later. Some tourists probably went home early too. Would be interesting for someone to track cases leaving NZ and what happened on those flights, given how many tourists are here for a short time.
I'm hoping rents are going to drop in tourist towns. Maybe we're about to see a solution to the housing crisis too. All those Airbnb people wanting permanent tenants again.
I don't think we have much exposure to Hubai tourism wise, so missed out there, also the Chinese government pretty much banned overseas tour groups, late Jan I think. Here the virus is an American or European virus. Levels of awareness in those markets where non-existent.
Yeah, rents will drop here, but there will be NO work, so will be even more unaffordable.
As for the Airbnb lot, I know someone who borrowed 6 mill to build / buy a raft of properties for an Airbnb operation, ideally the properties are quite different to something you'd live in full time and their locations are more suited to that use. Was doing really well with it too. They're not very happy right now.
Housing problems here are demand driven, high rents when high demand and empty properties when there's no demand because there's no jobs.
"Here the virus is an American or European virus. Levels of awareness in those markets where non-existent."
But the time between high infections in those countries and us taking action was relatively short yeah?
Re Airbnb, I was thinking of the people that shifted their holiday homes from long term rentals to nightly.
Just read this thread. Apparently they're not quarantining new arrivals for another 4 days. Yikes.
https://twitter.com/algoriphagus/status/1241547516325138432
Think we'll discover that the virus had been circulating in US and Europe for far longer than we think. The delay due to denial "its just a hoax" in the west, followed by the consequences of that delay might make the initial Chinese response actually pretty efficient.
Thank you Ed. We need daily patrols of the police and military pulling elderly off the streets for flouting the new rules. Elderly caught in public without ID should be sent back into isolation.
Yeah, a few whacks with a baton, bushmaster pointed at their faces and confiscation of walking frames will teach them. 🙄
About people over 70, in the UK, as on Sunday 15th. I haven't found the update within the past week. UK Mar.15/20 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-5189587
Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'within weeks'
Every Briton over the age of 70 will be told "within the coming weeks" to stay at home for an extended period to protect themselves from coronavirus. When it happens, they will be asked to stay home for "a very long time", Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
The government is to release social distancing advice for elderly people on Monday – but they will not yet be asked to self-isolate for long periods. Mr Hancock said the over-70s and people with certain health conditions would soon be asked to self-isolate – but he did not say for how long.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show people without symptoms would still be able to visit older relatives and friends as long as they stayed 2m (6ft) away from them.
The health minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething, said it was "entirely possible" elderly people would be asked to self-isolate for long periods. "That shouldn't be a surprise," he added.
But the Scottish government said it had no plans to isolate the elderly, and would instead "ask them to reduce social contact". Jeane Freeman, Mr Hancock's counterpart in Scotland, said: "We don't want people who are elderly to be stuck in their homes alone not contacting anyone, with their families not able to be in touch with them and to help them.
.
And good idea for supermarkets – One called Iceland, it's apparently a brand name, in West Belfast is opening early for the older person. (Iceland, a supermarket brandname! Have they lost their identity to commercial interests as we have lost 'kiwi'?)
Older people have enjoyed dedicated shopping sessions at some supermarkets as the coronavirus outbreak causes more people to stock up on goods.Pensioners were able to shop at Iceland and Lidl stores before general admittance to the public. In west Belfast, the local Iceland store at the Kennedy Centre opened its doors for older people only at 8am. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-17/older-people-enjoy-dedicated-shopping-sessions-at-supermarkets/
We're not under martial law. The announcement yesterday was a request not a mandate, and it wasn't a request to isolate in the way you are suggesting.
There are elderly people that still need to go out for food, they have no other way of getting it. They also need to get sunshine and fresh air and exercise to keep themselves healthy and to manage stress. They're not hurting anyone else by going outside so long as they follow the protocol. They should limit this, but it's not sensible to ban it.
Corona virus isn't airborne in the medical sense. At this stage elderly people aren't going to catch the virus so long as they don't have close contact with other people (2m distance, handwashing).
Please stop talking about locking people up. There are very good public health reasons to not do that at this stage.
My Mum's 76 this year and in frail health. I've told her to stay at home and call me if she needs anything. Countdown is still doing online shopping so I've had a stash of groceries delivered to her (I restrained myself and didn't buy 150 rolls of Purex 2-ply though) so hopefully, she'll be able to ride it out. I will confess to being a little concerned, however.
This from a UK over 70s expressing a request for using reason and not a blanket prejudice against the age group.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/70-healthier-lot-younger-folk-dont-make-go-lockdown/?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter
From this weekend, we are being told to self-isolate for 12 weeks, which takes me back to my teenage years, when my father banned me from leaving the house, after I took up with a boy on a motorbike.
The item was published on Tuesday, 17 March so it may have been written pre-weekend or refer to the weekend starting Saturday, 21 March. The writer makes her points succinctly. Apparently the very large Italian death toll, being found to be among the elderly, needs to be viewed dispassionately.
The Italian population has apparently a large population of very elderly. The elderly people dying there have been largely in the 80s whose bodies have been suffering the degeneration that happens towards the end of life. It has been pointed out that the indication that coronavirus is the cause, masks the fact that they have had multiple health problems which they have kept at bay for the time being, and coronavirus is just the last straw – not a virus striking at a healthy, unlucky citizen.
World Health Organisation report of 2015 shows that for over 65's they have 21.7% compared to EU of 18.9%. http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/355985/Health-Profile-Italy-Eng.pdf?ua=1
Wired headline tells it: Why the Coronavirus Hit Italy So Hard
The country has the second-oldest population on earth, and its young mingle more often with elderly loved ones. https://www.wired.com/story/why-the-coronavirus-hit-italy-so-hard/
As the UK older says, give us over 65-70s a break and sensible guidelines that we are mature. wise and reliable enough to follow, please! And perhaps allow for Managed Demise for those in the older group, after certain legal steps have been followed, so we can go at our leisure with a plan probably for hearts and flowers, speeches, music, love etc. even if we have to be separated by a metre. It's called making the best of a bad job!
My parents are in their 80s. I'm worried too, but there are people around to make sure they are ok.
.
My parents are in the high risk group – aged almost 90 with comorbidities.
Have been self-isolating for a couple of weeks … but stuck in a horrendously stressful situation.
Here's a quick overview:
https://subzpsubzp.blogspot.com/
And this comment: https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-16-04-2019/#comment-1608556 on The Standard early last year.
that is appalling….why isnt this individual in a secure mental health facility?
Cheers, pat.
Appreciate the support.
The most urgent concern for me at the moment is to prevent these kids – who've spent the past 4 months with their mother – suddenly being dumped on my Parents just in time for a 4 week (or just as likely 4 month) lockdown. Horrendous level of noise … like living under siege … 24/7 it'll be a living hell for them. High stress & sleep deprivation … just what two 90yos at high-risk of infection need to supress their immune system.
But this guy’s violence remains a major worry … and I'll need to make sure the Social Worker & Police supporting them remain closely in touch (just hope they don’t take time off work during the lockdown).
Yes, and a lot of over 70s are still working from necessity. Or looking after grandchildren. Or doing meals on wheels. etc. etc.
Are you serious? We haven't been put into enforced isolation and nor should we at this point. We've been asked to stay home and only venture out on necessary errands.
Trying to scapegoat the over 70s as senile old goats (and goatesses) who can't be trusted to act responsibly? How old are you?
I read Maui as being OTT witty. No more. Well, I hope so!
My old school mate living in Italy, who like me is 70 years old, says that in their restriction period they could be stopped by the police and had only two legitimate reasons for being outdoors off their premises. Who knows what powers the authorities will have in a phase three or four situation here in NZ?
Maybe you're right. He/she should have included an emoji or something. He/she is a great admirer of Ed's though so don't know.
I'm a few years older than you but I see you're on the cusp of becoming a senile old goat. Welcome to the club. 😛
I hope it was a joke, but mauī needs to clarify.
It's on all of us to make our sarcasm clear now.
From someone who's spent the past few years singing the praises of totalitarian thugs and war criminals?
I'm still willing to give people the benefit of the doubt to clarify 🙂
Certainly an alternative view point.
But then Māui's always been alternative, right?
(Unsure about that comma…)
mauī, it means something different than Māui.
Sorry auto capitalised, didn't proof read. Tired, grumpy, stressed, not as careful as I should be.
Even more so now that I've just got back the super where I couldn't get various things due to #*!@ing hoarders clearing out various product lines. Crazy
All good Alice. Hope your local supermarket settles down soon.
Also according to an RNZ report from Nelson Grey Power, many seniors don't have internet access, and aren't very up-to-date with current advice.
Having worked in Auckland libraries, I know there are some seniors, and some people not so old, who have an aversion to using the internet. Other oldies use it a lot.
But, also, some people on low incomes have relied on libraries for computer and internet access. Now Auckland Libraries are closed, so there will be quite a few people of all ages not getting online info.
Noticed that the library computers at our local branch are always being well – and sometimes inefficiently used.
The old system of radio relayed information would be worthwhile to implement and advertise during news programmes. Older citizens who are more likely to have no internet, are also probably more likely to have radios. I would think radios would be as informative, and perhaps more reassuring than watching the television to keep up with the latest updates.
Yes, the article also said that many seniors use radio, and that was an important info source for them. But, it also said some seniors were not well informed. Maybe it depends how often they listen to the radio, and the times they listen.
RNZ is adding public service announcements. Also on freeview TV channels there are sub titles/tickers with some Covid-19 updates – during movies, etc.
Counterproductive I would think. Stopping the elderly from walking, biking and other non contact recreation will probably kill more than coronavirus.
I think my 89 year old dad will go downhill fast without his daily bike ride.
The same is true for many younger people.
We are away sailing at present. Very easy way of avoiding people.
Such interesting social dynamics right now.
I think many people are starting to leave their politics outside the door because when it comes to the crunch it really is the last thing that matters.
Having said that just look at this:
Heather Du Plessus Allan on HoS. It's premium so can't read the rest and wouldn't bother anyway. That woman is as clueless and classless as a headless chook yet she gets premium status.
At least the regulars like Audrey Young, Claire Trevett and co. are professional journalists and deserve premium status even if you don't agree with them.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12318469
I read it at the café, and it is as bad as you surmise. Towards the end she criticises Simon B as well. But it struck me that even if Jacinda had played a lower profile just as HdP recommends, she would now be penning something like:
"While the Govt. measures are not bad in themselves, the problem remains that there is an obvious vacuum of leadership at the top. Jacinda Ardern has been hardly to be seen, and still leaves us all with the impression that she is weak and vacuous."
If Heather Duplicitous-Allan was in charge, we'd all die. I'm fairly comfortable with Jacinda's approach. It's all "This is serious, kids!" without resorting to police-state "All citizens must obey curfew under penalty of bludgeoning!" which is nice. I think she knows you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. However, you can't legislate against human stupidity and selfishness. I don't envy her. I doubt she ever imagined she'd be confronted with anything like this in her lifetime.
"I think she knows you catch more flies with honey than vinegar"
Love that!
"I'm good"….yes but nobody else is if you don't do it.
Some people live in their own selfish bubbles.
'zakly!
Calling out a Serial Liar
Go to the 29:00 mark and watch—without gagging, if you can….
So, come November, if the election goes ahead, Americans get to choose between a compulsive liar and a pathological liar. Great stuff.
At least Biden's 'on to it" – sent out a tweet asking that bailed out companies forego stock buy backs. Meanwhile, Trump has already banned stock buy backs in bail out legislation.
Please lets just get some reassurance from the maths in this most unwanted virus.
In Italy with 48000 notified cases in 60million population that is still less than 1 person in 1000 who has contracted it. Lets stop panicking our children, the vulnerable and of course the stupid 'preppers '.
Yes, it is nasty and we should take all nessecary precautions but we do need to keep it in proportion.
The death toll in Italy is a bit over the top but Italians are notoriously subversive when it comes to their governments and it appears that everyone who has died having Covid has been classified as having died from it by the medics, but the flu, emphysema and associated lung and heart disease numbers are way down on a normal year.
It may be just a way to " punish " the current government whatever iteration it happens to be this week.
…that is still less than 1 person in 1000 who has contracted it…
Thus far. This is estimated likely to infect 40 to 70% of the population, and the Italian health system is overwhelmed with only the cases they have already. Please take this seriously.
Only without the now in place precautions.
Italy had 624 death yesterday. a nothing burger, to punish the current government yeah, right Tui.
Oh, btw, this lung disease kills young people too. Just sayin.
Italy actually had 783 death's yesterday Sabine.
Weirdly Germany has had only 31 deaths from 14,000 infections; Italy's death rate is 40 times that of Germany. This is explained in part by this interesting article:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/guymartin/2020/03/20/with-its-covid-19-caseload-spiking-to-14000-heres-why-germanys-mortality-rate-is-002-or-4000-times-lower-than-italys/#25e5a3a877ad
This is underway in NZ as I type, right?
Germany's hospitals are prepared in a really interesting, and good, way. Hotels are being cleared and set up as ersatz-hospitals for the less critically ill non-Covid-19 patients, which clears beds in extant hospitals for Covid-19 patients.
BG, the primary reason for that is that Italy is a prime tourist destination and in some areas, such as Lombardy the reaction for isolation etc was not implemented or too late.
You will not believe this, but in Salzburg Austria, which is in quarantine and all shops, restaurants etc are closed, buses wit tourists arrive. How is this possible? Nobody can answer this. Please accept that this is not a racist comment but the majority of tourists come from China where the virus first broke out.
I think we need to be prepared for a similar scenario over 12 or more weeks. It takes discipline to see this through. I am not sure whether the god of money will let this happen so easily. The hoarders rampaging through supermarkets in the last couple of weeks are part of that. I feel that the current situation will show whether the human race is civilized. I wont hold my breath though.
Yours and a couple of others relentless sour negativity is quite tiresome.
I'd use an ignore user feature if this site had one.
dude, i am sorry for the negativity, but this a actual reality.
so ignore me, feel free. But don't deny reality. Look at it, because 624 people died yesterday in Italy, bringing the death toll of this disease in 1 MONTH to over 4000.
that.is.reality.
not pessimism.
Reality.
It's not an aversion to reality, most people here seem to have a strong grip on the handle of the mad/sane door, it's you losing the plot in a very public way, because you aren't getting what you want from the government, and for a week where one can set a watch by it, predictable as it is.
It may be cathartic for you to express your right to free speech in such an ignorant and depressing manner, but it can't be helping much as there appears to be no end to the daily spews.
[Pack it in with the abuse and bullshit labeling – this is a forum for people to express their thoughts, concerns and opinions.] -B
Only a tiny percentage and only if they have other compromising conditions.
Tiny percentage of a very large number is still a large number, and in this case still quite capable of overwhelming a country's health system.
783 Sabine
Here are some facts about age and COVID-19: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
I believe the Italian stats are even more heavily skewed towards old age but this might be because they’re ‘ahead of the curve’.
The link provided by Bearded Git at 7.2.1….
My sister's two teenagers are scared shitless that the ICU their mother works in will be red zoned.
But accurate and timely public health messaging should be tempered because bad thoughts?
Well, bad thoughts, hoarding, and occasionaly mob violence.
There's a balance that needs to be had between the "it's not so bad, only .2% mortality rate" (which is still thousands of dead if half nz gets it, even if accurate) and the sort of messaging that empties supermarkets not because of any shortages but because the markets literally can't restock their shelves quickly enough.
Too far one way, people set up illegal roadblocks (and the next step is to arm the roadblock guards with firearms). Too far the other, the govt does fuckall then has to go straight to level 3 or 4 because they realise how badly they fucked up (UK).
DIY masks.
https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Cloth-Face-Mask/
Appropriate materials.
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/
2006 CDC paper on using heavyweight t-shirts to make masks.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/12/6/05-1468_article
Open source Covid 19 med supply group..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/670932227050506
Good links. My partner has just gone through them and is putting the info to use tomorrow.
Cheers
Couple of tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzHi-m3zmZ-03I41wZWLcDQ
https://twitter.com/karlgude/status/1241398424697737216
A rock and a hard place
Dr Baker's call for lockdown and testing makes much sense in the immediate …
"Baker, a professor at Otago University's Department of Public Health, wants "very intense social distancing for a period, maybe two to four weeks, while we're ramping up testing and then do a lot of testing and once the testing's done then we'll feel much more comfortable that we've got it under control".
"It's extremely inconvenient to do this but the alternative is we follow everywhere else in the world, excluding parts of Asia, towards a certain future of widespread transmission."
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/03/21/1094258/the-case-for-lockdown-now
However what occurs when those two/four weeks are up and we have expended our current testing capacity?…and will we be able to obtain more of these resources in the world of rampant demand?
"Already, experts say, our testing regime risks being overwhelmed. In comment provided through the Science Media Centre, University of Otago Associate Professor James Ussher, Labtests director Gary McAuliffe and Canterbury DHB Dr Joshua Freeman say "diagnostic labs are really struggling to maintain testing capacity due to supply chain issues, which will be ongoing, as they are worldwide".
Bloomfield said on Wednesday there were 30,000 swab tests in the country for Covid-19."
At current testing rates (the past couple of days increased level) those kits will be used in 20 days and this pandemic is widely expected to run for months /years.
The politicians are earning their money with this one
Limited testing is how it spreads.
https://twitter.com/sir_vickz/status/1241098421794033664
the virus spreads through contact.
Testing provides information that may (stress may) be used to mitigate the spread
I saw this last night and it made me so despairing (and I use that word sparingly) that at the moment I could not bring myself to safely repost it:
Time to name it for what it is … hoarding.
I understand people are afraid, but they're also self-absorbed shitheads. Cut it out, New Zealand. It's not funny. What if that was your Nana?
And the only people who can afford to hoard food are the ones with money.
People with no money often live day to day and shop day to day.
Would be appropriate to see supermarkets open to gold card holders (with limits on products) for the first hour of every day (would be super clean then too), the next hour for community service card holders and then everyone else.
Exactly. RNZ checkpoint interviewed some people at a supermarket. One woman, sounded like probably in her 40s, said she'd bought enough supplies to last for 6 weeks. You need the money, and a big freezer and pantry to store that amount of stuff.
The woman sounded quite matter of fact, and didn't seem to have any shame about such bulk buying.
That dedicated shopping time is already being offered by UK supermarkets.
I'd suggest a further step, and close shop for the purpose of restocking shelves. If the people who restock fall over….and (though I hate the damned things) go 100% self service and have the checkout staff redirected to shelf stocking too.
I live well out of town and shop every fortnight … It would not be great to come in and find I am short supplied by product limiting. You will have to re think the "rules" for limiting to make it possible for me to buy my groceries in one trip to town. .
Also, it seems to me that product limiting is per supermarket visit. So, what's to stop someone returning an hour later and buying more of the limited item; or 2 or more people from the same household each buying to the product limit at the same time?
When I come into town there is usually other things needed for the farm etc so I don,t want to have to return several times on the same day to get around product limitation, but yes, good idea take someone else along with me to pick up another ration of the limited stuff I need to fill my two weekly shopping list.
Where would you put the immune compromised shoppers?
I realise it is best for this group to stay home.
I would like more health information for some conditions in particular autoimmune disorders. I am not sure if this is immune compromised as often it is when the immune disorder is active when you feel the most unwell. The full blood count can jump around a bit.
Yes, preppers = hoarders.
It's a pretty accurate metaphor for the total wealth and property disparity of New Zealand:
– housing hoarding
– savings hoarding
– disposable income for healthcare
– life one payday away from crisis
– business ownership of more than $1m equity
It's simply that this specific crisis has unmasked our total crisis in inequality and poverty
Yes. I would express the same sentiment but framed from a slightly different angle; wealth itself is not the problem (after all who exactly is for poverty), but the irresponsible use of it.
Too much wealth in too few hands, is the problem.
Simple arithmetic, when resources have finite constraints.
For a few to have way to much, it is necessary for many to have way too little.
Not political, just basic subtraction.
As recent events have graphically illustrated.
Thursday midday I walked around with an empty trolley. No bread left. Almost no meat/chicken and other essential commodities. As I walked out… handed my empty trolley back to the manageress on duty… told her what I thought of the selfish shoppers coming in early and taking everything so that older and often disabled people missed out… asked that they start to ration out essential items. She told me she would be in touch with Countdown management.
That evening Countdown announced it would ration out essential products… open an hour early to re-stock all the shelves and close an hour early. I'm sure I was not the only upset customer around the country, and I can't thank the staff enough for how splendidly they have responded to the situation. They deserve a medal when this is over.
Good story, the supermarket staff must hate this more than any of us.
Supermarket management in NZ have been rather slow in getting on top of this. Here in Brisbane many of the big operators like Coles now have police or security staff at the checkouts to enforce limits.
But without clear rules it's hard to enforce; and no-one is going to like it when the govt is forced to act.
Security in supermarkets, who would have thought, but my kids mum was abused and threatened with physical assault while waiting in line, for standing "too close" to someone. My hope is the hoarders spend the next few weeks away from the supermarkets, as they have got their food, and leave the rest of us who are just shopping normally, in peace.
"My hope is the hoarders spend the next few weeks away from the supermarkets, as they have got their food, and leave the rest of us who are just shopping normally, in peace. "
Good thinking, IFL
really good thinking.
The most greedy supermarket shoppers, would shop in numbers from the same home and have a trolley each.
Red, it's an important thing you raise. I hope this ok, but I removed the photo. I think the woman deserves her privacy. It's also going to be too hard to look at for many people who are already overwhelmed.
Hoping we can use this sad story to prompt discussion about actions people can take to stop people being left like this.
Well here is a good example of using the power of the internet for good:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/volunteer-army-responds-to-coronavirus-covid-19-crisis/12064018
This is where the 40-year long propaganda onslaught about people 'naturally' being "rational self-maximisers" leaves us – old ladies weeping in deserted aisles. Can we exhume Milton Friedman's corpse and stick his skull on a pike?
Well. If you expect over 70’s to self isolate for weeks, and others for two weeks, buying up in advance is not necessarily, selfish. It is necessary for many. One of Our local supermarkets has stopped online orders for a week, to catch up.
With little kids and elderly relatives at home, we are trying to keep two weeks ahead for 7 people, without buying too much at once. But then, we need to limit the amount of times we go shopping, as we don’t want to expose them to more than necessary.
Then there are elderly neighbours
we are offering to shop for, as well?
It's my understanding that only a small minority of people are in self-iso at present. Even if they all shopped up for two weeks I can't imagine their small numbers would strip supermarket shelves bare. And if you do need to shop in bulk for legit reasons, it might be a good idea to take some documentation to support this, otherwise everyone just turns up claiming they're shopping for 16 kids and a street full of relies.
If we wait for govt to act, it will be ration cards and all that comes with that.
What we are seeing is the end game of a society that has demanded nothing by 'rights' for generations. Which while these are fine and good things, every 'right' comes with an complementary obligation on someone else. We've allowed our conversation about 'responsibilities' to lag very far behind, and now we pay the price.
About 39 years ago, at a time and place pivotal in my life, I asked a question about the purpose of what we were doing, and the answer was "We are a people of duty". I thought it a bit dull at the time, but with time I understand it more and more.
That basic social contract from a citizen to the states of Australia or of New Zealand doesn't get pulled up with such a forceful tug too often. The most we rise to it usually is win a decent flood and we're all implored to pile up the sandbags together which then get reported n the TV news with warm bromides about community spirit.
We haven't had that called upon on a national scale in living memory – perhaps for those in their mid 80s who can still recall World War 2. That rules out 85% of us with no such understanding of deep social contract.
While we are figuring out what this new all-powerful all-subsidising state looks like, we have to address this spectacular growth in our state dependence is only possible because citizens will in future pay taxes to service the whole of the debt getting piled up.
That's a great moment for a new generation to write that societal contract anew.
That's a great moment for a new generation to write that societal contract anew.
Yes, but they will have to rediscover the words necessary to such a task.
Aye
Obviously there are people hoarding, who shouldn’t be.
Often the same people who already have too much, and could easily afford deliveries and inflated prices.
But. Expecting poor people to honour a “social contract” when they have experienced rich people dumping on them their entire lives, is a bit much.
Why do you expect them not to grab what they need ASAP, before it is priced out of reach, after the example of the well off, “there is no such thing as society” for the last 35 years. Expecting prices to rise beyound their reach, and the wealthy to grab everything, simply coincides with their lived experience for most of their lives.
After telling everyone for decades the greedy are superior people, you expect social cohesion?
Expecting poor people to honour a “social contract” when they have experienced rich people dumping on them their entire lives, is a bit much.
Indeed. I wrote to that exact point; the rich do indeed have a responsibility to use their wealth wisely.
As do the poor have a similar responsibility to use their time, talents and energy wisely.
The two come as a package, by all means demand the former, but the left is rather prone to making excuses around the latter.
And the right persists on having expectations of responsibility on poor people’s part, which would never be expected, of rich people.
There are reasons! Not excuses, why poor people cannot use their time and talents wisely. Being too hungry to learn at school is just one. Which I’ve seen, way too often.
Read up on the many research articles about what being poor and stressed, does to cognitive ability.
We've been down this conversation many times before, this isn't the right thread to continue it.
?Open Mike, is it not?
Inconvenient to worry about poor people at this time?
I'm not allowed to upset people
I find that quite upsetting 😉
I can't remember my login/password for TS. Everything I've tried I get a temporary lockout.
I think weka knows how to reset your password. I could try but better to leave to a safe pair of hands 😉
Thanks. I can wait. I recall posting without logging in can have its draw backs.
I'll have a look this afternoon.
Thanks. It may just be a password issue. Tried my email address plus p/word. Then tried Carolyn_nth and CarolynS plus p/word – didn't try logging in via wordpress
I DMed you 🙂
hmm, I'm confused now how you have a gravatar if not logged in.
The gravatar may go with my email address?
and thanks, weka
Logged in now.
It should not be allowed. Its uncivilized and inhuman.
Anyone care to give an idiots guide to the wage subsidies?
After hearing from a couple of business owners how they got money from the government, my boss is now toying with the idea of applying. The business will suffer a drop in revenue after the ban on gatherings of 100 or more, so will qualify on that basis. How does that affect me as an employee? Do I get made redundant? How do I get paid, through her or someone else? Do I have to sign on? etc. I only work 24pw, but that is classed as full time, do I receive the full subsidy of $585 (more than I get now) per worker or my regular wage? or does my boss get the full amount, pay my wages as usual, and get to keep anything extra if given by the government?
With level two here, I am, as an immune deficient diabetic, asked to stay at home like 70+ seniors, so what are my options regarding employment? It's a very confusing time to decide, or even know, the best course of action.
As an aside, my employer told me that with the minimum wage, I'll have to lose an hour per week to cover the raise. 🙄
Your boss can apply for wage subsidies for all of his staff that are on a regular wage.
Shit out of luck are self employed, gig'ers, etc that are on irregular income or are doing a draw out once a year.
But your boss should do this – if he can prove that he has had losses of at least 30%, he can revceive a subsidy for you for up to twelve weeks – this is my understanding – and this be a non refundable aid. it wont' be your full salary if you are above min wage as it only covers min wage. In saying that those that can apply for it should.
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/emergencies/2020/coronavirus.html
Thanks @Pat. On the phone now, but not really wanting to tie up the line for people with more pressing needs.
I did find that there is an isolation subsidy called the Leave Payment.
The COVID-19 leave payment will be paid at a flat rate of:
$585.80 to a person working 20 hours or more per week
$350.00 to a person working less than 20 hours per week.
Employers receiving the payment for employees who are required to self-isolate can receive it for 14 days. As people may be required to self-isolate more than once, employers will be able to apply for this on an ‘as needed’ basis. It can be paid for the entire period an employee is sick (or looking after a dependent person who is sick) with COVID-19 but the employer must apply every 14 days.
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/covid-19-support.html#null
My question is do 70s and immune affected people meet the requirement when told to stay at home as they are in the level 2 alert.
had wondered the same thing but more in line with level 3 and 4
Thanks, good to have solid information.
Your last question is important, I'm guessing there will be more info available this week. But on the face of it the MoH guidelines are not yet including people who are being told to stay home from yesterday (which isn't a self-isolation but a recommendation).
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-health-advice-general-public/covid-19-self-isolation#who
@Pat and @weka
Just got off the winz hotline and still none the wiser, really, but thanked the operator from all of us anyway.
The way I see it is stay at home means just that, and even though I wasn't told I was eligible or not, to do that, the leave scheme is my only option other than quitting. Advice to talk to my boss about it is okay, but I know she'll expect me to work so she can get the in work payment and get my labour for free.
I guess it comes down to whether being told to stay at home trumps being told to go to work.
I am scheduled for a call from a nurse when they're free, though, for some reason I didn't quite catch why.
I will ask for her to apply for the leave scheme on a recurring basis until the alert advice has been removed, what happens from there is then her call. She will say I work alone and only have contact with her in the mornings and minimal to others, but she is still working (over 70 and a health risk) in a retail environment, and I work in all weathers, at high risk of seasonal weather and resulting sickness, weakening my system exponentially. All right in the sun, the wind and rain, not so much.
The nurse just rang me back and said I should tell my boss I've been advised to ask for her to apply for the leave scheme. If she doesn't comply, I'm to call MSD and let them know.
Gearing up for the coming fight this morning. The end game was my boss telling me my hours will be cut to pay for my minimum wage increase.
That was never going to end well.
That’s a bit of a bastard 🙁
Have you got that in writing?
Don't know the details, but I do know an org that had a decent payment from govt in a few days of applying, so no interruption to payroll. Didn't seem to be too hard and took a chunk of stress away.
I had to work at a wedding yesterday, 75 people, one pm through after midnight, and a couple of guests told my boss how easy and quick it was to get the wage subsidy, so I can see why she's fully on board now, even if she wasn't when I told her about it last week.
If I weren't deemed higher risk, I'd be more than thankful for the 90 days job security – great initiative, but I'm not sure, with the alert advice, it's in my best interest long term.
Case update, read the whole thread.
https://twitter.com/melulater/status/1241517190597115904
yep, stuff here
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120475561/coronavirus-two-more-coronavirus-cases-in-taranaki
Italy.
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/italy-to-close-down-all-productive-activity-except-for-indispensable-factories/
This ad really pissed me off! On Stuff, an ad for debt consolidation loans and a limited time offer of 12.99% p.a. on new loans of $20k or more. Under the circumstances, I’d call this unethical advertising. For obvious reasons, no link here 🙁
i got an email from the bank – i don't have any loans what so ever on my business – that they happily would lend me money for buisness continuency at a 1% discount. These fuckers just got money for free and they have the gall to do that.
In saying that, the government did nothing to prevent that either. Its not 'unethical advertising, its about the sum many small businesses like mine – businesses thad are not debt laden – to make it over then next 6 month i.e. cover leases, rates, building insurances, electricity, water. Overheads. For most of us that would be largly enough. We could shut, stay at home, and when life is going back to a new normal maybe pick up where we left.
it would allow us to pay creditors, most whom are local businesses – packaging, printing, web hosting, etc etc – and again it would help the landlords that have mortgages to service to continue to service their mortgages.
But as the Convid-19 bail out plan said as per the Spin Off, we are to talk to our 'financial advisors' or to our banks and when w have exhausted all of our means we can apply with Winz and be beneficiaries.
So don't blame the banks. They are doing what they were told to do by our Government.
Yes, I received a courtesy e-mail from my bank too. However, the ad is not for/from a bank but from a moneylender charging an eye-watering interest rate. People and businesses (SMEs) are struggling financially and it will get worse but they should not become easy prey for and fall victim to unscrupulous lenders. If I was ‘blaming’ anybody or anything, I was blaming Stuff for placing the ad.
bank, money lender, loan shark….its all the same.
everyone has bills to pay, stuff has, i have, the businesses in my town have. today i made enough moeny to pay one of my creidtors. Yei fucking me.
nevermind, that i and everyone else should be at home, trying to deprive the virus of hosts. Yet, here we go work, as the government can't be bothered to either by emergency degeree to stop predatory lending – and this is what i consider it, predatory, as most of us not on the government tit have no way of paying any loans back any time soon, or be prepared to offer no interst loans to us that we can start paying back once we have a new normal that allows people to work.
Stuff, has bills to pay so they allow for the ads that are paid for. I have bills to pay so I go to work – potentially getting infected myself, potentially infecting others, and it is just a shit show.
In the meantime, i have gone through liters of santizers, santizing down eftpos terminal, benches, shop surfaces after every single customer, the hand sanitzer by the door is slowly but surly coming to an end, delivering, taking online orders, hoping every day to just make enough to just pay one more bill. (And i have been doing that since February).
I am done putting the blame on capitalism, banks and so on and so forth, we have a government that can and should regulate, can and should use emergency decrees, can and should send checks to everyone, and i mean everyone, so that we are not going to have a country full of homeless, highly indebted people who will never ever be able to get themselves out of it.
And so far all i am hearing is crickets.
I am wondering if the supermarket will finally give the vulnerable and over 70's a designated hour for shopping to protect them from possible infected other shoppers. The supermarkets are frenetic at the moment and in our particular area there doesn't seem to be any door control on keeping numbers down in the shop at any one time like clubs do with bouncers.
I have a daughter in the US and she said her partner aged 62 is shopping at a designated time in their Baltimore supermarket and she can't understand why this hasn't been implemented here. Hopefully this will come in and for front line staff and emergency workers who are so stressed right now. Right from the beginning a method of rationing should have been put in place. Two of everything in the long life section. It should have been policed hard and still should be in place. Leaving it to the goodwill of people is an exercise doomed to failure. People need to be instructed and steered in the right direction like road rules etc.
Now we over 70's have been obliged to isolate it is going to be even worse for food shopping. The click and collect and home deliveries will not be able to cover everybody so are we now going to be named and shamed if we dare to go out once a fortnight to stock up the pantry??
Meanwhile everybody look out for each other on this rocky ride ahead.
Yep. The home deliveries also need to be expanded, but that means more staff at supermarkets. And the cost of home deliveries will be too much for some seniors.
Younger bulk buying hoarders should hang their heads in shame. This has resulted in the restricted hours, which makes physical distancing harder.
"Leaving it to the goodwill of people" is a fine idea, but now it's proved a failure, it's time to impose rules. Funny you mention road rules, every time I drive I see people flout them, so maybe not a great analogy. As far as supermarkets and what you think they should do, ring the supermarket, email the company, don't wait for the govt, if people hassle the supermarkets enough they will do something.
I've sent 2 emails to Countdown – only supermarket in my area. First to ask them if they were going to expand their home delivery and PickUp options, and questioning the cost of deliveries now that 70yrs+ and health compromised people have been advised to stay at home.
The 2nd was to complain that I tried to place an order for home delivery and couldn't make it work – turns out their instructions are not good enough. A blank time/day slot does not mean it's available, need to find a slot that has "available" printed in it. So it means there were no "available" slots yesterday when I tried to place an order.
Our local P&S has a two of any item limit, enforced through the checkout, you try and scan three of one item and the red light comes on and it all stops. Evidently Countdown is the same. Stopped it all in it's tracks, shelves all as full as normal at 7 pm, and everyone relaxed.
They are also trolling the hoarders by putting lines that have been panic bought on good specials in prominent places shortly afterwards. You've had to walk around half a dozen pallets piled high with loo paper for the last week, right inside the door on a good price. They are going down, slowly. Same thing with canned tomatoes.
We the People
We the People are meant to be lucky to have the strange words of little Heather de Plessis.
But, She struggles and slides backwards so regularly, spraying female vitriol for all of us to trample upon.
Fortunately, she seems to seek the warm loving advances of strange Simon Bridges.
It causes Her and Simon to flop around trying to kick the brilliance out of Jacinda Ardern.
Two backward Loosers
Just vitriol thanks.
well to be fair, she would have a hard time spraying male vitriol 🙂
Saw a disturbing video in NZH this morning of a supermarket in Auckland earlier today (sorry can't find the article now to put up a link).
When the doors opened by what seemed like security guards, a never ending, snaking line of panic buying shoppers entered, young, old and in between. It seemed to go on and on and on forever with people packed close together, creating an extremely dangerous environment for virus spread, going against everything we have been advised what to and what not to do in public areas!
Ignorance, selfishness and greed to the extreme. I feel so ashamed to be part of the human race at times!
Henderson, Lincoln Rd, PaknSave.
With queues of people not keeping 1 meter distance. Message is probably not getting through to many low income people and elderly. Some innovative communications required.
People are probably just scared as they see other countries locking down.
I think it is a primeval urge surfacing in times like these. Don,t be so surprised.
And epidemics become pandemics.
Prague, March 21 (CTK) – The data on the payment by bank cards assembled by the Czech technological group COVID19CZ last week have shown that 46 percent of returnees from Italy did not observe at least once the rules of the two-week quarantine, the server Seznam Zpravy said today.
On March 6, the government imposed the quarantine on the returnees from holiday in Italy in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.
https://news.expats.cz/weekly-czech-news/46-of-czech-residents-returning-from-italy-did-not-obey-quarantine-says-data-from-bank-cards/
For what it is worth, As we are in our seventies(in fact one in the eighties) My wife and I have started on an Excel spread sheet all our movements from last Wednesday when we had to go down to the "Why you're up her" We have isolated ourselves as Ardern has requested since yesterday (Sat 21st)
Simple to do as we have used our EFTPOS card and all the receipts give times and dates of any transaction and names of people who we have had dealings with. We have also listed others we know who we have come into contact with. If the worse comes to the worse our movements date & time are recorded and hopefully it will help to track others.
Good idea.
"Remove shopping trolleys. Could work? Carry or Baskets only."
Elegantly funny and appropriate, I reckon.
https://talk.whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0ad1e732af8579515d1c2613033a104f04c75107.jpeg
[deleted the embed, way to big sorry – weka]
Yeap works for my disability – then it would mean I just can't shop.
Nothing quite like the power to indefinitely detain your opponents without trial to make your problems go away.
The Justice Department has quietly asked Congress for the ability to ask chief judges to detain people indefinitely without trial during emergencies — part of a push for new powers that comes as the coronavirus spreads through the United States.
[…]
The proposal would also grant those top judges broad authority to pause court proceedings during emergencies. It would apply to “any statutes or rules of procedure otherwise affecting pre-arrest, post-arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial procedures in criminal and juvenile proceedings and all civil process and proceedings,” according to draft legislative language the department shared with Congress. In making the case for the change, the DOJ document wrote that individual judges can currently pause proceedings during emergencies, but that their proposal would make sure all judges in any particular district could handle emergencies “in a consistent manner.”
The request raised eyebrows because of its potential implications for habeas corpus –– the constitutional right to appear before a judge after arrest and seek release.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/21/doj-coronavirus-emergency-powers-140023
Gilead here we come
I would like to see ACC suspend a review. I do not want to use up any more energy arguing.
I would like to think that there is always food to eat in NZ. It might not be what you usually eat proportion wise for the duration of a pandemic.
There might come a time when there is a fresh outside market selling fruit and vegetables in every supermarket carpark as a temporary measure.
Some orchards might open up their orchard to the public.
"Some orchards might open up their orchard to the public."
….providing they wear masks
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120474932/liberty-market-refuses-entry-to-customers-not-wearing-face-mask-or-scarf?cid=app-android&fbclid=IwAR3c_NssBKJbWj-itRkAe3TMnnfwUDehSboCNbP5_o4xPBqZ4qitGqFhqf0
And face masks need to be available to wear. I did not follow it up but I did hear that some of the NZ health stock of masks were disintegrating.
Ok fuel emissions would not be healthy.
Farmers markets to operate four times a week would be sensible. Not just a day each weekend.
Just saw on the news the Otara food market has to shut. Physical distancing is an issue.
Out of the box and a safe way of delivering food is required.
Queues are a hotspot.
Funny, in the past socialists had a global brotherhood thing going on – care and regard for working people across the globe.
Not anymore I guess.
In good news, that Samoan case of suspected covid-19 came back negative.
Lot's of relieved folk there, I bet.
tRump's fuckwittery circles the globe.
The Lagos State Government has warned against the unprescribed use of Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, as preventive or curative drug against the Coronavirus disease.
The warning is coming following the announcement of the United States President, Donald Trump, that the drug can now be used to treat Coronavirus.
The announcement has been countered by the country’s Food and Drug Administration, which said it had not approved the use of the drug for treatment against Coronavirus.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, warned residents to avoid consumption of Chloroquine without prescription, noting that it could cause more harm than good to their health.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a live broadcast also cautioned residents against panic-buying of Chloroquine drugs, foodstuff and other household items.
http://saharareporters.com/2020/03/21/chloroquine-can-cause-more-harm-good-lagos-warns-residents
Poots lying? Nah….
Russia, which has a population of 144 million, has reported just 199 coronavirus cases and some doctors have questioned how far the official data reflects reality, given what they say is the patchy nature and quality of testing.
A sharp spike in pneumonia cases in Moscow, Russia’s biggest transport hub and a city with a population of around 13 million, has further raised doubts.
“I have a feeling they (the authorities) are lying to us,” said Anastasia Vasilyeva, head of Russia’s Doctor’s Alliance trade union.
The government says its statistics are accurate however, and President Vladimir Putin has complained that Russia is being targeted by fake news to sow panic.
The number of cases of pneumonia, which can be caused by coronavirus, increased by 37 percent in Moscow year-on-year in January, according to Rosstat, Russia’s statistics agency.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-coronavirus-health-russia-idUSKBN216305
Surely an upright man of principle like Pootee wouldn't do that. Nor would he seize the opportunity to spread more distrust and chaos in the west.
https://www.dw.com/en/is-russia-running-a-coronavirus-disinformation-campaign/a-52864106
Putin is sending the army into Italy with urgent emergency airlift.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-russia-italy/russian-army-to-send-coronavirus-help-to-italy-after-putin-phone-call-idUSKBN219081?il=0
And that's exactly what we should be seeing here if there were thousands of cases in NZ. If Putin can't cover it up, NZgov doesn't have a chance.
I was looking for something like this earlier today.
RNZ reports:
It does not seem to have got off the ground that much yet. they are asking small businesses to use their online ordering & their own home delivery services
Maker2U about web page
I'm gonna sign up as a buyer and see if there's any small stores near me doing home deliveries.
http://www.fromthefarm.co.nz is also up and running for online buying … just needs more producers to start listing on it. It is totally free for buyers and sellers to use.
My asthmatic SO has received the work from home order. The IT knobs are arranging for some kit to be delivered, I've sorted a click and pick up grocery account, on the cusp of being at risk myself, and that's it, we're both home for the foreseeable.
I see over 3000 health professionals have begged the government to go to level 4 immediately. Seems sensible to me.
Btw, I cannot believe that Queenstown has few cases. Bars cafes thousands of folk in close contact with a very high tourist content. Not a living brain cell among the lot if them. It seems beyond belief that random tests are not being done there. The place should be shut down IMHO.
Link for the 3000 thing please.
3000 ask for Level 4
"Baah!Sorry seems like this page does not exist"
This should work.
It’s something to take notice of, but there are policy issues beyond ICU capacity at work. How do we feed people if the country is in complete “stay at home… or else” quarantine? Hoarders will feel smug up until they need something and very few people are around to supply it.
Thank you
"Almost 3,000 people, including front-line health workers, are petitioning the Government to activate Covid-19 Alert Level Four immediately."
There are two petitions now due to non medical staff,completing the first
https://www.change.org/p/medical-professionals-to-pm-ardern-4-measures-to-protect-nz-from-covid19#pressreleaselink
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScV1oGY6okUuofXo4919-uzVpJqi_ClIrLptwpCMs0FDgyx4A/viewform
NZ probably has some massive infrastructiure problems, not just with the health system – legacy of 3 decades of neoliberalism.
If NZ went straight to level 4, how would that be implemented? Martial Law?
I suspect the government is trying to lead the country there through steps, so people understand how and why. Some people still haven't got the message about social distancing and non-hoarding.
We are not an authoritarian state like countries that went early for lock down.
The infrastructure problem is in the building and management.Too many managers with clipboards,checklists and not enough hammers,and spanners.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/119514577/12000-monthly-bill-for-lights-and-heating-at-empty-west-coast-hospital
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/410719/new-christchurch-hospital-building-beset-by-delays-and-two-years-behind-schedule
The 3000 bed hospital in CHCH has 18 icu beds with negative pressure rooms.
According to your links, the west coast one should be operational about now, and the chch one is fixing the shit that was badly done initially and not found until checks. Rather than too many managers, one seems to have been done properly and the other wasn't managed well enough.
I suspect level 4 implementation would be managed friendly like initially, but then go a bit Sleeping Dogs after the point people should know, yeah.
Is level 4 no leaving your home at all, not even to go for a walk?
Instructed is a clear word, when the state uses it.
Looking through that Level 3 is being brought in now. Moves to non face to face primary health care, and public facilities being closed, at least here in Queenstown.
Yeah there's a lot of crossover between mass gatherings restrictions and closing public facilities.Haven't looked around dunners too much lately, but I expect a lot of bars will have shut, too. 100 people or a metre radius around each punter wouldn't allow enough punters to open, pay topup or not.
A quick walk around Qtn yesterday most businesses were bleeding money, hospo and retail.
With the wording around the wage subsidy there's an imperative to keep staff employed, in a public facing situation this mightn't be the smartest right now.
Hospos that had punters there were a lot of goodbyes being said, others nearly more staff than punters, and all residents.
Good comment.
I expect that we’ll have Level 3 in or within a week.
This is how I read it too. That it's about the logistics of shifting eventually to level four, and allow people time to adjust and prepare (mentally as well as practically).
Agree with you about so few cases in Queenstown, a minor miracle there. Part of it is few tourists in last couple of months and I think good luck around where they came from. Today the place was like the depths of the off season in the middle of May, very few about, just residents. Everyone is being very vigilant and unwell people have been got help.
The Hereford conference last week might have been the end of that by the looks.
Everyone is expecting the place to be shut very soon. There's been a lot of government people in town past week and the panic buying was jumped on very quickly and effectively. The consequences of advanced cases here doesn't bear thinking about, or in any small town in New Zealand for that matter. The nearest hospital in Invercargill is 2 hours away by road, or 30min by air, Dunedin is 40 min by air or 3 1/2 hours by road.
Wouldn't be surprised if we aren't Level 4 by the end of the week.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120481673/coronavirus-shane-jones-says-now-is-not-the-time-to-regulate-freshwater
"Now is not the time to regulate fresh water" – Shane Jones
Disaster capitalism, right here, right now.
Letter to Prime Mininster Jacinda Ardern
COVID-19 AND GAZA
22 March 2020
[deleted]
COVID-19 AND GAZA
The more than two million people living in the blockaded Gaza strip in Palestine are being left to face the Coronavirus with hopelessly inadequate medical facilities and extreme overcrowding – conditions in which the virus will spread rapidly and devastatingly unless action is taken now.
The usual medical and public policy advice to Palestinians cannot hope to deal with this terrifying scenario. Health officials warn that if the virus enters Gaza, containment and treatment under the Israeli blockade will be nearly impossible.
Gaza’s hospitals are already unable to cope with “normal” medical situations. In March last year the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Mr. Jamie McGoldrick, reported on Gaza’s "chronic power outages, gaps in critical services, including mental health and psychosocial support, and shortages of essential medicines and supplies."
In similar vein the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem has reported that, even before coronavirus, Gaza’s barely functioning hospitals are dealing with the fallout from thousands of injuries which have resulted from murderous Israeli sniper fire on demonstrators in the ”Great March of Return” protests on the Gaza side of the security fence.
97% of all Gaza’s water is not fit to drink and Gazan hospitals don’t have enough clean water even for medical staff to wash safely. Simply calling on people to wash their hands regularly and keep social distances is a recipe for an unmitigated human catastrophe.
The situation is little better in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank where, as a result of Israeli’s brutal military occupation, medical facilities are also inadequate with serious shortages of basic medical equipment, trained personnel and essential medical supplies.
The looming human catastrophe is clear. When medically well supplied countries like Italy and South Korea have struggled to contain the virus there is no way the hospitals in Gaza or the occupied Palestinian territories will be able to cope.
Each year New Zealand votes at the United Nations for the end of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza.
It’s now critical for the government to back up those votes with effective political action. We urge you to put the welfare of Palestinians alongside concern for New Zealanders and speak out calling for Israel to end its blockade of Gaza and military occupation of the Palestinian territories and allow Palestinians to access the medical supplies and equipment they need to deal with this crisis.
[deleted]
https://www.psna.nz/petition
you know better than to do long cut and pastes. Next time I'll delete a lot more if the work if editing is left up to me.
maybe we can do what El Salvador did
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/el-salvador-to-offer-relief-for-those-hit-by-coronavirus
And idiots thought a tRump presidency would put an end to neocon PNAC aspirations.
https://twitter.com/pkmacdonald/status/1241348720278503424
Just put new rubber on the mobility scooter, Satire Radials.
Cervecería Modelo are not going to call their new brew Blonde or Pilsener, it'll be Corona Viris. As brand awareness goes, to date, Cervecería Modelo have received 4 trillion dollars worth of free global advertising before they even launch their new bottle with the 'Lick Test' label.
Some informed comment
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018739583/professor-gary-mclean-no-age-group-is-immune-from-covid-19
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018739589/dr-michael-baker-covid-19-update-and-listener-q-and-a
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018739595/peter-doherty-people-should-act-as-though-they-have-covid-19
Should we use international law academics for mandatory Covid 19 vaccine testing?
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30373-1/fulltext