Well spotted and thanks Donna. Maths needs contexts otherwise it is meaningless to learners. Kids should use maths in order to understand social problems but those who see maths as just 1+1= 2 are likely to turn out like Seymour. Sadly.
Anyone else think the free prescription subsidy was also a massive lifeline to local pharmacies struggling with the competition from the Chemist Warehouse?
The more I think about it, the more assinine Nicola Willis's kneejerk response to that bit of the budget was – locally owned small businesses feeling the pressure of an Aussie owned corporate ought to be the bread and butter of National's support base. It shows how far modern “cponservatism” has strayed toward culture war crony capitalism that she didn’t instinctively know how that comment might play in Ashburton.
For those who may be interested, this study in the journal Race and Class maps the incestuous nature of British 'anti-woke' ideologues, their think tanks, media vehicles and campaigns.
Finally, some real NZ data on reported assaults in public spaces like toilets, and in prisons by transgender women.
‘A recent long-form read by David Fisher in the NZ Herald (paywalled) talks in depth about “scaremongering” around bathrooms and changing rooms: “The arguments espoused most fervently come with the least evidence,” Fisher wrote.
Fisher cites police reporting, both here and overseas: 'Police here have no reported cases of women being assaulted in toilets or changing rooms by trans women. That matches with research done in the US after exclusionary bathroom laws were passed in some states. A 2018 study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found no evidence supporting fears of privacy and safety violations involving trans people.'
Similarly, there is no evidence of this risk in prisons: 'The Department of Corrections reports no sexual violence involving the 16 trans women who have served time since 2018. Violence, too, is low with two non-serious assaults recorded since July 2020 in which a trans woman was identified as the perpetrator. Over the same period, there were 324 assaults in total in women’s prisons.” ‘
The quote comes from a Spinoff article posted today.
Data – and quality data are not the same thing. Data regarding harm needs to be comprehensively and determinedly collected by objectively neutral researchers before you can come to conclusions. The statistics we do have that are robust relating to sexual assault – of all kinds, indicates a significant benefit to single-sex provisions.
As you appear to have absolutely no consideration for safeguarding, privacy dignity or consent in regards to women and girls in single-sex spaces, I make the following suggestion:
Leave those who see value in such spaces to them and join the men whom you want to share with in the men's provision.
The advantages of this are easily noted:
No continued conflation of sex and gender identity, which just confuses people.
Female facilities remain single-sex provisions, (albeit with the acknowledgement that females – such as you – who want to share with men, are doing so without everyone's consent and with no respect for male privacy and dignity)
This allows women – such as yourself – to practically and visibly show their support for men with gender identities – without imposing or assuming all other women and girls feel the same.
Men with gender identities – can now pee – which apparently was impossible without the presence of women – reducing the likelihood of urinary tract infections or bladder or bowel explosions.
One significant benefit – ANY discussion about transgression () over single-sex boundaries is redirected AWAY from the men with gender identities – whom you no doubt consider already persecuted – and towards yourself and all the other women who join you in the men's facilities. This allows you to protect them from further harm, by making you the transgressor.
(Note: This is a tongue-in-cheek suggestion… unless it solves the issue…)
The Spinoff article is the usual conflation of links and and confident assertions with poor quality basis for such.
Jennifer Shields has (fore)skin in the game, and the article shows this.
What is not apparent, is the demonstration of this wordsmith’s skills when making threats against women online. Now, I understand that without screenshots, you will be asked to make a choice on who is believable here, article writer – Jennifer Shields or Ani O'Brien – but that will depend on personal factors – so will just leave this here for you to consider:
And this happened in 2014-5, when Shields was 21, two years into hormonal transition, and perhaps a little vulnerable?; while O'Brien was a few years older. I wonder what O'Brien said or did that elicited Shield's insults? Just thinking of the context.
When you have a chance to put your "thinking" to paper, I'd be interested in hearing what "context" expressing the hope that someone is raped with a chainsaw is acceptable.
Also, in what "context" such an expression is labelled an insult, rather than a violent threat.
Toko Shane (Ashley) Winter is in Paremoremo prison where he belongs. However, "Pandora Electra" is in Springhill Women's prison, but as a person with convictions for violence (including a knife attack on his former partner and others) and what is described as "complex" needs, he will be under very close supervision.
"It shows that nearly 60% of trans-identified male prisoners in the UK are sex offenders, making them 3.5 times more likely to be sex offenders than men who don’t identify as women. It should surprise no one that they are also nearly 18 times more likely to be sex offenders than women in prison.
The first time this fact was brought to wider attention was with official United Kingdom Ministry of Justice statistics obtained in 2020. The data was submitted as evidence by Professor Rosa Freedman, Professor Kathleen Stock, and Professor Alice Sullivan to the Reform of the Gender Recognition Act inquiry."
And who asked why these men who have opened their mouths and uttered the magical incantation "I identify as" should have the "right" be imprisoned with some of the most vulnerable women in our society, many of whom (if not most of them), have suffered from male violence, and do not have the "right" to refuse to be housed with men.
Self ID means that any man – repeat any man, – who says he is a woman mysteriously becomes one. No diagnosis, no hormones, no surgery is required. He does not even have to shave off his beard.
This is a treadmill argument from you, Visubversa.
As I have discussed before, Stats NZ gives around 11,000 people identifying as transgender women in NZ. Ireland (similar population to ours), introduced a self-id law similar to ours in 2015. Around 100 transgender women a year actually use the self-id option, primarily for legal reasons like wills, etc. Many other countries round the world have self-id laws, like, eg. Brazil. I found this out from a 5 min internet search.
The transgender community already use most public spaces such as womens' toilets in NZ, and have been for decades. The article I cited gave at least a link to NZ data on transgender crimes associated with these spaces. The police do not identify a problem with self-id, or they would have made a submission when the self-id legislation came up. You cannot take away others' rights without hard facts.
Yes, the trans community did use public and private toilets that corresponded with their "gender identity" for decades, and still do. I I have been in the "Women's Rest Room" at the same time as Georgina Beyer at several Labour Party Conferences. We were both there to do the same thing, use the convenience, flush, wash our hands and depart. Trans people like Georgina are no problem to lesbians like me. Georgina and others of her generation were gay men at a time when sex between men was unlawful. They "transed away the Gay" but were still same sex attracted.
These days it is quite different. Even the term "same sex attracted" is called an "anti Trans dogwhistle". Many of the people claiming trans status of one sort or another are heterosexual.
Why assume the Department of Corrections is absolved from the responsibility of treating men with gender identities with humanity, dignity and respect while in the male prison estate? What right are you referring to?
In March 2018, Corrections introduced a policy for the management of transgender individuals, with a focus on being more responsive to them and their circumstances. Each transgender individual has a customised support plan and is able to choose the gender of staff who conduct searches. The provision of a support plan does not depend on whether the transgender individual has legal recognition of their gender identity, or whether they have undergone medical or surgical steps.
(Note: No mention of any assessments of the impact on the female prison estate or female prisoners.)
It reality comes down to throwing one's weight around.
Relatively recently, trans in NZ began to assert 'rights' as opposed to behaving in a manner that respected others.
As one youtuber commented:
"If a grown man wants to pretend to be a woman he has a perfect right. But if he wants someone else to pretend he's a woman, that person has a perfect right to refuse."
In pursuit of these non-existent rights they vilify and antagonize or assault anyone that dares to question their dodgy new orthodoxy.
I saw a man wearing a backpack and ordinary mens’ clothes assault a woman in video of that incident. A 20 year-old from Tauranga has been charged. Any evidence he was transgender?
He could have been upset for a family membe. Not an excuse, but don't forget Posie Parker has said some horrible things about trans people and their families.
Other people have been charged with assault in the same protest. Including an older man with neo-Nazi affiliation who repeated physically harassed a short woman marshall from the anti-PP counterprotest. The incidences of physical violence in the crowd were very few, and the police are prosecuting without bias, as they should.
This is difficult, because contemporary theories of gender identity sit poorly with little things like genetics. And, there are plenty of ordinary persons (especially journalists) that almost no-one respects anyway.
In time the matter may calm down, and result in accommodations akin to religious and single sex schools.
At present however, dissent is heretical – dangerous and forbidden.
Actually Stuart Munro, the violence happened because Posie Parker, a UK media personality, who has expressed violently anti-trans ideas, visited NZ to stage public events. Her funding came from CPAC, a right wing political group which with policies against LGB people, trans people and which is anti-abortion.
PParker has said trans women suffer from an abnormal sexual fixation that leads inevitably to pedophilia, thinks trans men should be forcibly sterilised, calls families who support their trans children 'groomers', and calls on US men with guns to use womens' toilets, in order to 'protect' womenfolk against a nonexistant threat from trans women (as validated by years of trans inclusionary toilet policies in 10 US states). All of these words of hers are documented, if not to be found on her website.
Violent words are not violent deeds, it is true, but they csn incite others to act. I don't think anyone in government was aware of the extent of Posie Parker's hate speech at the time she was allowed entry. As for the counter-protest, it was organised to be noisy but non-violent.
If some had heightened emotions in response to PParker at her event, well that's easy to understand given her anti-trans rhetoric. PParker was also seriously let down by the Mickey Mouse security firm she chose to hire at the last minute. Even more let down by that firm, and also let down by Posie, who appeared to abandon them, were the women who were to speak at her event.
PP's hate speech goes a long way beyond complaining, as you and others here do, that inclusionary language, increased social visibility and acceptance for the small group of trans NZers (around 24,000) somehow excludes or invalidates the other 5 million of us and our identities. Seems a disproportionate response to me.
I oppose PP's hate speech, and dislike the mush of disinformation around trans issues, which is why I post on this topic. Also, in examining the pros and cons of the trans debate recently, I have found that I value being part of an incusionary, not an exclusionary society.
Having week-on week-off custody of my child with their father from early on, I believe that parenting, not mothering or carrying a foetus, defines our relationship with our children in families. Not highly identifying with girlie-girl culture, I don't mind stretching the term 'woman' to include a few others. I know who I am, and am happy with my identity.
I don't perceive trans people as being more threatening than anyone else about their usual business on the street or in a public toilet. Neither do I believe that trans people should be saints – merely as human as the rest of us, with the usual numbers of bad apples and criminal offenders.
I also recognise that Posie Parker and anti-trans messaging comes from a well-funded international right-wing political movement, which is cunning in its use of social media.
Stop making excusing for the violence against women meeted out by the trans rights activists at Albert Park. This is frankly a disgusting thing to do.
I might have some little bit of respect if the tras and the likes of Marama Davidson who when asked failed to condemn the violence against women (when she is Minister of Violence Prevention) had outright condemned the violence metted out by the angry, threatening menacing mob.
We have fought for years to stop this bloody blame the victim of violence agaubst women. Shame on you.
The older man whoever he was should be investigated by the police and charged if found he has a crime to answer for.
The only older man I saw at Albert Park was an old geezer who was pushed and shoved. Not by the Let women Speak mob.
Other people have been charged with assault in the same protest. Including an older man with neo-Nazi affiliation who repeated physically harassed a short woman marshall from the anti-PP counterprotest.
Was this at the Auckland event? Or the Tasmanian one (I can't tell from the structure of your comment).
If it was the Auckland one, can you link – I've not seen this reported.
There is very little information over whether or not the 20-year old (apparently from Gisborne, not Tauranga) is or is not a man; or whether they self-ID as a woman, or as a man, or are an ally, or anything at all about their motivation.
The police statements, as far as I can see, appear to be gender neutral – and have shut down all further comment while the case is before the courts
Earlier, police said in a statement a 20-year-old had been charged over an "assault on an elderly female at the Albert Park protest" on March 25.
It's the press who have reported that this person is a man.
Actually Stuart Munro, the violence happened because Posie Parker, a UK media personality, who has expressed violently anti-trans ideas, visited NZ to stage public events.
Actually, the violence happened because a violent person chose to engage in violent actions against someone else.
For which, they have been arrested and charged in court.
There is no excuse.
It doesn't matter what PP might have said earlier (there was no chance that anyone heard what she might have said that day – so she can hardly have inflamed the crowd)
Anyone can choose to participate in a protest. Can chant slogans, and wave signs, and make their voice and perspective heard *without* feeling the need to haul off and hit someone.
Being at a protest is, by definition, an environment of heightened emotion. People don't go and protest because they feel mild disagreement with someone or something – they care passionately.
However, choosing to cross the line into violence is not something that most of our society finds an easily forgivably transgression.
If the counter-protest was designed to be non-violent, then the protest organizers failed miserably in their organization. And have continued the failure by choosing not to condemn the violence which occurred.
Personally, I disagree with much of what I've read from PP. I find some of her rhetoric distasteful, and …. unkind … to say the least.
However, I do *not* support the violent suppression of free speech.
If you disagree with something, by all means express your disagreement. Present your arguments. But do not try to silence your opposition.
The cancel culture has gone more than far enough.
Regardless of what you believe in this particular situation – it's a profoundly dangerous principle to be espousing.
There is plenty of evidence of the danger of trans women in women's spaces in both the UK and US. You must remember that a male bodied person being allowed into women's change rooms automatically makes two sexual offences legal: voyerism and exhibitionism.
But that is only part of the arguement. You people don't understand that most people don't support gender self ID (vote compass poll before the last election, link previously posted on her and I will re link if required).
You people miss a good part of the gender critical arguement. It is not only about a direct threat to women (i.e. our objection to male bodied people in our change room). We just don't want to have a male bodied person in our change room while we are in a state of undress (and we are certainly not wanting a male bodied person in a state of undress in our change room) End of story. And I certainly object to a male bodied person being in women's change room with girls and teen girls.
Any decent male bodied person would get this point of view and not try and insert themselves in women's spaces. It speaks volumes about the male bodied people (transwomen) who don't respect this.
How about those women who support transwomen (male bodied people) in women's change room start using the mens change room in support of trans women, thus turning the men's into unisex???? How would that work for you?
Gotta love those free trade rules! Sure, sure it's technically correct, but is UK and Oz honey what you think of when you think of Manuka? This is how France must feel seeing us produce brie and camembert.
But the Australian Manuka Honey Association has been appealing the effort in multiple markets – saying honey produced there can also be called mānuka.
and
In 2021 the UK rejected a bid by the Mānuka Honey Appellation Society to trademark the term 'manuka honey' in the UK.
Sorry Roy but when I think of Manuka honey I think of the bees having obtained their nectar from Manuka flowers and that is what happens in both Australia and New Zealand.
Provided you blood pressure is well under control I suggest you read this article. A warning though. It is not for the faint hearted. As it says
"The truth is, there are far more manuka trees in Australia than New Zealand. Australian manuka trees produce quality Australian Manuka Honey that is every bit as pure, natural, and beneficial to health."
You can’t equate it to Brie and Camembert as both are geographical locations in France. We might have had a case if we had named it “New Zealand Leptospermum Scoparium” honey or suchlike.
The alternative name to Manuka is Tea-tree, sometimes spelled Ti-tree.
Tea-tree oil is commonly used in soaps and cosmetics overseas and is one of the most effective natural remedies for head lice. Same here except we call it Manuka.
Splitting hairs here. But theoretically NZ producers can trademark the mācroned name, as, while there is a history of teetrees there being called manuka, the macron is local to Te Reo Māori and NZ.
Apparently, the NZ manuka honey producers association has successfully trademarked Unique Mānuka Factor UMF TM. Australian honey producers are free to market their own validated bioactive trademark. It just can't be UMF.
The reason why Aussie honey producers want in is because NZ honey exports increased from $97k to $480k from 2010 to 2021. Most of this increased value is due to NZ investment in bioactive quality validation and to brand marketing into the wellness food space.
You can't import Australian honey to NZ, so UMF is all you'll get. For disease reasons, imports of honey can only come into NZ from a few Pacific Islands.
That sounds like a very good idea. I'm not a lawyer though.
I guess the problem would be that no-one living outside New Zealand would realise there was a difference between the word with and without the macron. They would probably assume a bad printing job for the label.
At first glance the regional info is impressive…and the clear explanation of the various coalition formulae is useful..
And national are a political party in decline..
They have no idea of what to do to fix what we face..
Just the same old same old key era styling promises for big tax cuts for the richest..and chewing gum tax givebacks for the rest of us…
The words coming from them only demonstrate that bankruptcy of ideas..
Words/promises/imperatives from a byegone era…and it shows..!
And voters eyes then flick to the raving loons they would be in coalition with..
And aside from that small tranche of true believers who vote for them..the rest of us just shift uneasily in our seats at the very thought of it…
One valuable role that act plays is that they make the greens seem…to middle new zealanders…with an ill-defined but growing environmental awareness..like a safe pair of hands..
Whereas act froth at the mouth at the idea of cutting benefits..and the like..
Total bastards..basically..
(And if I could shoehorn in a prediction… should nact get over the line..the country will explode into direct action on matters environmental..and the like..)
But back to my original question..what is yr problem with horizon..?
I don't have a problem with Horizon – however, looking at the combined results of polls over the last 5 months – they have National weighted way lower than any of the rest. Every other poll since the last one they did in January (where they had National at 27%) – has had National between 32-35%. We then go back to their previous poll in October (National 26%) – but every other poll between October and January had National between 32-40%
Now that may be accurate – they may have a hotline to the 'truth' (who knows until we get to October) – but when there is an outlier result like that, I'm more inclined to view it with several grains of salt.
The only explanation in their methodology I can see is that they only poll people who are 100% likely to vote. So are likely to get higher representation from those who are party loyalists who have already made up their minds. The relatively high ACT total (in comparison to other polls) would support this interpretation.
FWIW – I think that the right and left are too close to call ATM – as they have been for the last year or so.
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See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
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Question??
Is the funding for Glenbrook mills new electric burner being funded by carbon credits, if not why not??
Sorry in a hurry so no links etc
I just love it when a sharp mind with excellent critical skills destroys manipulative populism from David Seymour and ACT.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/132087865/why-critical-maths-adds-up
Well done, Donna Miles!
Well spotted and thanks Donna. Maths needs contexts otherwise it is meaningless to learners. Kids should use maths in order to understand social problems but those who see maths as just 1+1= 2 are likely to turn out like Seymour. Sadly.
Anyone else think the free prescription subsidy was also a massive lifeline to local pharmacies struggling with the competition from the Chemist Warehouse?
The more I think about it, the more assinine Nicola Willis's kneejerk response to that bit of the budget was – locally owned small businesses feeling the pressure of an Aussie owned corporate ought to be the bread and butter of National's support base. It shows how far modern “cponservatism” has strayed toward culture war crony capitalism that she didn’t instinctively know how that comment might play in Ashburton.
Yup, levelling the playing field, somewhat.
Yes I thought so Sanctuary, as there are hardly any independent Chemists on Gold Coast, as they found Chemist Warehouse impossible to compete with.
That could happen here, so a great move by the Government to favour our own by covering charges.
CW has been offering "free" postage (over a certain buy) and free script charges on click and collect.
Chemists do far more since the pandemic, and we need them to remain viable.
Talking of culture wars..
For those who may be interested, this study in the journal Race and Class maps the incestuous nature of British 'anti-woke' ideologues, their think tanks, media vehicles and campaigns.
An anatomy of the British war on woke
Cited in a Guardian article on the UK National Conservatives, a recent political face of the movement.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/21/tories-opposition-danger-national-conservatism-conference-rightwing
Finally, some real NZ data on reported assaults in public spaces like toilets, and in prisons by transgender women.
‘A recent long-form read by David Fisher in the NZ Herald (paywalled) talks in depth about “scaremongering” around bathrooms and changing rooms: “The arguments espoused most fervently come with the least evidence,” Fisher wrote.
Fisher cites police reporting, both here and overseas: 'Police here have no reported cases of women being assaulted in toilets or changing rooms by trans women. That matches with research done in the US after exclusionary bathroom laws were passed in some states. A 2018 study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found no evidence supporting fears of privacy and safety violations involving trans people.'
Similarly, there is no evidence of this risk in prisons: 'The Department of Corrections reports no sexual violence involving the 16 trans women who have served time since 2018. Violence, too, is low with two non-serious assaults recorded since July 2020 in which a trans woman was identified as the perpetrator. Over the same period, there were 324 assaults in total in women’s prisons.” ‘
The quote comes from a Spinoff article posted today.
What is the media’s responsibility when reporting trans disinformation?
Data – and quality data are not the same thing. Data regarding harm needs to be comprehensively and determinedly collected by objectively neutral researchers before you can come to conclusions. The statistics we do have that are robust relating to sexual assault – of all kinds, indicates a significant benefit to single-sex provisions.
As you appear to have absolutely no consideration for safeguarding, privacy dignity or consent in regards to women and girls in single-sex spaces, I make the following suggestion:
Leave those who see value in such spaces to them and join the men whom you want to share with in the men's provision.
The advantages of this are easily noted:
(Note: This is a tongue-in-cheek suggestion… unless it solves the issue…)
The Spinoff article is the usual conflation of links and and confident assertions with poor quality basis for such.
Jennifer Shields has (fore)skin in the game, and the article shows this.
What is not apparent, is the demonstration of this wordsmith’s skills when making threats against women online. Now, I understand that without screenshots, you will be asked to make a choice on who is believable here, article writer – Jennifer Shields or Ani O'Brien – but that will depend on personal factors – so will just leave this here for you to consider:
https://twitter.com/aniobrien/status/1660384773876101120?s=20
https://twitter.com/jennifilm/status/1660390420818563072?s=20
Ani O'Brien who works for The Platform and Sean Plunkett?
Yes. What of it?
It's called smearing, a common tactic when the smearer's argument is weak.
100% gsays
And this happened in 2014-5, when Shields was 21, two years into hormonal transition, and perhaps a little vulnerable?; while O'Brien was a few years older. I wonder what O'Brien said or did that elicited Shield's insults? Just thinking of the context.
Article confirming Shield's age
" Just thinking of the context."
When you have a chance to put your "thinking" to paper, I'd be interested in hearing what "context" expressing the hope that someone is raped with a chainsaw is acceptable.
Also, in what "context" such an expression is labelled an insult, rather than a violent threat.
Toko Shane (Ashley) Winter is in Paremoremo prison where he belongs. However, "Pandora Electra" is in Springhill Women's prison, but as a person with convictions for violence (including a knife attack on his former partner and others) and what is described as "complex" needs, he will be under very close supervision.
Ireland, of course has the infamous "Barbie Kardashian" in Limerick Women's prison. https://thecountess.ie/limerick-prison-the-rights-of-female-prisoners/
And there are gatherings of evidence on the international stage. https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/rights-and-wrongs-how-gender-self-identification-policy-places-women-at-risk-in-prison/?mc_cid=fc75df3a16&mc_eid=602ecaffca&fbclid=IwAR3A_NnfBrP0XG4C6L30NpkYG6nYaL5SskrjBmT0yGms1SXyejH8bS89GZo
There are a lot of other reasons why men who claim special identities should not be imprisoned with women.
https://www.thedistancemag.com/p/male-prisoners-who-claim-to-be-women?fbclid=IwAR0h2QnLv35yY_6S3_UV8r1zvf41MUS1OYFKzZoq3ddUPtkmGrcQ1JuuQLc
"It shows that nearly 60% of trans-identified male prisoners in the UK are sex offenders, making them 3.5 times more likely to be sex offenders than men who don’t identify as women. It should surprise no one that they are also nearly 18 times more likely to be sex offenders than women in prison.
The first time this fact was brought to wider attention was with official United Kingdom Ministry of Justice statistics obtained in 2020. The data was submitted as evidence by Professor Rosa Freedman, Professor Kathleen Stock, and Professor Alice Sullivan to the Reform of the Gender Recognition Act inquiry."
And that is why entry into NZ's womens' prisons is not a right in NZ, but is evaluated for each case, according to Corrections.
…a right for transgender women..
And who asked why these men who have opened their mouths and uttered the magical incantation "I identify as" should have the "right" be imprisoned with some of the most vulnerable women in our society, many of whom (if not most of them), have suffered from male violence, and do not have the "right" to refuse to be housed with men.
Self ID means that any man – repeat any man, – who says he is a woman mysteriously becomes one. No diagnosis, no hormones, no surgery is required. He does not even have to shave off his beard.
This is a treadmill argument from you, Visubversa.
As I have discussed before, Stats NZ gives around 11,000 people identifying as transgender women in NZ. Ireland (similar population to ours), introduced a self-id law similar to ours in 2015. Around 100 transgender women a year actually use the self-id option, primarily for legal reasons like wills, etc. Many other countries round the world have self-id laws, like, eg. Brazil. I found this out from a 5 min internet search.
The transgender community already use most public spaces such as womens' toilets in NZ, and have been for decades. The article I cited gave at least a link to NZ data on transgender crimes associated with these spaces. The police do not identify a problem with self-id, or they would have made a submission when the self-id legislation came up. You cannot take away others' rights without hard facts.
Yes, the trans community did use public and private toilets that corresponded with their "gender identity" for decades, and still do. I I have been in the "Women's Rest Room" at the same time as Georgina Beyer at several Labour Party Conferences. We were both there to do the same thing, use the convenience, flush, wash our hands and depart. Trans people like Georgina are no problem to lesbians like me. Georgina and others of her generation were gay men at a time when sex between men was unlawful. They "transed away the Gay" but were still same sex attracted.
These days it is quite different. Even the term "same sex attracted" is called an "anti Trans dogwhistle". Many of the people claiming trans status of one sort or another are heterosexual.
And there is always this sort of problem.
https://transcrimeuk.com/2019/02/02/katie-dolatowski/?fbclid=IwAR0EFtiQ8R6shurVxfq8kaggKJcxg3B1-5A5y5AWkTHq4P2qUTWHENxmy18
Why assume the Department of Corrections is absolved from the responsibility of treating men with gender identities with humanity, dignity and respect while in the male prison estate? What right are you referring to?
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/human_rights_in_new_zealand_prisons
Prison policy was changed without public knowledge or discussion in 2018:
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/42324/C124483_Information_on_transgender_and_gender_diverse_individuals_in_custody.pdf
(Note: No mention of any assessments of the impact on the female prison estate or female prisoners.)
I.10 Management of transgender prisoners
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/Prison-Operations-Manual/Induction/I.10-Management-of-transgender-prisoners
And where is the issue again?
It reality comes down to throwing one's weight around.
Relatively recently, trans in NZ began to assert 'rights' as opposed to behaving in a manner that respected others.
As one youtuber commented:
"If a grown man wants to pretend to be a woman he has a perfect right. But if he wants someone else to pretend he's a woman, that person has a perfect right to refuse."
In pursuit of these non-existent rights they vilify and antagonize or assault anyone that dares to question their dodgy new orthodoxy.
I saw a man wearing a backpack and ordinary mens’ clothes assault a woman in video of that incident. A 20 year-old from Tauranga has been charged. Any evidence he was transgender?
He could have been upset for a family membe. Not an excuse, but don't forget Posie Parker has said some horrible things about trans people and their families.
Tasmanian senator denounces Posie Parker for her words in Hobart
Other people have been charged with assault in the same protest. Including an older man with neo-Nazi affiliation who repeated physically harassed a short woman marshall from the anti-PP counterprotest. The incidences of physical violence in the crowd were very few, and the police are prosecuting without bias, as they should.
And all of this violence stems from asserting rights that impose upon others.
It is not enough to live quietly in new gendered identities – the demand is that they be respected. So much for not doing it in the streets and frightening the horses.
This is difficult, because contemporary theories of gender identity sit poorly with little things like genetics. And, there are plenty of ordinary persons (especially journalists) that almost no-one respects anyway.
In time the matter may calm down, and result in accommodations akin to religious and single sex schools.
At present however, dissent is heretical – dangerous and forbidden.
Actually Stuart Munro, the violence happened because Posie Parker, a UK media personality, who has expressed violently anti-trans ideas, visited NZ to stage public events. Her funding came from CPAC, a right wing political group which with policies against LGB people, trans people and which is anti-abortion.
PParker has said trans women suffer from an abnormal sexual fixation that leads inevitably to pedophilia, thinks trans men should be forcibly sterilised, calls families who support their trans children 'groomers', and calls on US men with guns to use womens' toilets, in order to 'protect' womenfolk against a nonexistant threat from trans women (as validated by years of trans inclusionary toilet policies in 10 US states). All of these words of hers are documented, if not to be found on her website.
Violent words are not violent deeds, it is true, but they csn incite others to act. I don't think anyone in government was aware of the extent of Posie Parker's hate speech at the time she was allowed entry. As for the counter-protest, it was organised to be noisy but non-violent.
If some had heightened emotions in response to PParker at her event, well that's easy to understand given her anti-trans rhetoric. PParker was also seriously let down by the Mickey Mouse security firm she chose to hire at the last minute. Even more let down by that firm, and also let down by Posie, who appeared to abandon them, were the women who were to speak at her event.
PP's hate speech goes a long way beyond complaining, as you and others here do, that inclusionary language, increased social visibility and acceptance for the small group of trans NZers (around 24,000) somehow excludes or invalidates the other 5 million of us and our identities. Seems a disproportionate response to me.
I oppose PP's hate speech, and dislike the mush of disinformation around trans issues, which is why I post on this topic. Also, in examining the pros and cons of the trans debate recently, I have found that I value being part of an incusionary, not an exclusionary society.
Having week-on week-off custody of my child with their father from early on, I believe that parenting, not mothering or carrying a foetus, defines our relationship with our children in families. Not highly identifying with girlie-girl culture, I don't mind stretching the term 'woman' to include a few others. I know who I am, and am happy with my identity.
I don't perceive trans people as being more threatening than anyone else about their usual business on the street or in a public toilet. Neither do I believe that trans people should be saints – merely as human as the rest of us, with the usual numbers of bad apples and criminal offenders.
I also recognise that Posie Parker and anti-trans messaging comes from a well-funded international right-wing political movement, which is cunning in its use of social media.
Stop making excusing for the violence against women meeted out by the trans rights activists at Albert Park. This is frankly a disgusting thing to do.
I might have some little bit of respect if the tras and the likes of Marama Davidson who when asked failed to condemn the violence against women (when she is Minister of Violence Prevention) had outright condemned the violence metted out by the angry, threatening menacing mob.
We have fought for years to stop this bloody blame the victim of violence agaubst women. Shame on you.
The older man whoever he was should be investigated by the police and charged if found he has a crime to answer for.
The only older man I saw at Albert Park was an old geezer who was pushed and shoved. Not by the Let women Speak mob.
Was this at the Auckland event? Or the Tasmanian one (I can't tell from the structure of your comment).
If it was the Auckland one, can you link – I've not seen this reported.
There is very little information over whether or not the 20-year old (apparently from Gisborne, not Tauranga) is or is not a man; or whether they self-ID as a woman, or as a man, or are an ally, or anything at all about their motivation.
The police statements, as far as I can see, appear to be gender neutral – and have shut down all further comment while the case is before the courts
It's the press who have reported that this person is a man.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/04/20/man-appears-in-court-accused-of-punching-woman-at-parker-rally/
There is, however, no doubt about the trans-woman who poured tomato juice over Parker. Her transition history is given in the linked article.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300848339/protester-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-after-throwing-juice-on-posie-parker
By their works shall ye know them.
And the trans activists' work is an elderly woman with a fractured skull.
If you think you can justify that, you'd better think again.
Actually, the violence happened because a violent person chose to engage in violent actions against someone else.
For which, they have been arrested and charged in court.
There is no excuse.
It doesn't matter what PP might have said earlier (there was no chance that anyone heard what she might have said that day – so she can hardly have inflamed the crowd)
Anyone can choose to participate in a protest. Can chant slogans, and wave signs, and make their voice and perspective heard *without* feeling the need to haul off and hit someone.
Being at a protest is, by definition, an environment of heightened emotion. People don't go and protest because they feel mild disagreement with someone or something – they care passionately.
However, choosing to cross the line into violence is not something that most of our society finds an easily forgivably transgression.
If the counter-protest was designed to be non-violent, then the protest organizers failed miserably in their organization. And have continued the failure by choosing not to condemn the violence which occurred.
Personally, I disagree with much of what I've read from PP. I find some of her rhetoric distasteful, and …. unkind … to say the least.
However, I do *not* support the violent suppression of free speech.
If you disagree with something, by all means express your disagreement. Present your arguments. But do not try to silence your opposition.
The cancel culture has gone more than far enough.
Regardless of what you believe in this particular situation – it's a profoundly dangerous principle to be espousing.
There is plenty of evidence of the danger of trans women in women's spaces in both the UK and US. You must remember that a male bodied person being allowed into women's change rooms automatically makes two sexual offences legal: voyerism and exhibitionism.
But that is only part of the arguement. You people don't understand that most people don't support gender self ID (vote compass poll before the last election, link previously posted on her and I will re link if required).
You people miss a good part of the gender critical arguement. It is not only about a direct threat to women (i.e. our objection to male bodied people in our change room). We just don't want to have a male bodied person in our change room while we are in a state of undress (and we are certainly not wanting a male bodied person in a state of undress in our change room) End of story. And I certainly object to a male bodied person being in women's change room with girls and teen girls.
Any decent male bodied person would get this point of view and not try and insert themselves in women's spaces. It speaks volumes about the male bodied people (transwomen) who don't respect this.
How about those women who support transwomen (male bodied people) in women's change room start using the mens change room in support of trans women, thus turning the men's into unisex???? How would that work for you?
David Fisher is a man and can present all the data he likes. He has no business arguing for transwomen in women's spaces. He is a man
Gotta love those free trade rules! Sure, sure it's technically correct, but is UK and Oz honey what you think of when you think of Manuka? This is how France must feel seeing us produce brie and camembert.
and
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/490383/new-zealand-manuka-honey-producers-lose-trademark-bid
Sorry Roy but when I think of Manuka honey I think of the bees having obtained their nectar from Manuka flowers and that is what happens in both Australia and New Zealand.
Provided you blood pressure is well under control I suggest you read this article. A warning though. It is not for the faint hearted. As it says
"The truth is, there are far more manuka trees in Australia than New Zealand. Australian manuka trees produce quality Australian Manuka Honey that is every bit as pure, natural, and beneficial to health."
https://simplyhoney.com.au/what-is-australian-manuka-honey/#:~:text=The%20truth%20is%2C%20there%20are,natural%2C%20and%20beneficial%20to%20health.
You can’t equate it to Brie and Camembert as both are geographical locations in France. We might have had a case if we had named it “New Zealand Leptospermum Scoparium” honey or suchlike.
Yes – so called 'branding' is an exercise in fetishism.
It's all in a name isn't it?
The alternative name to Manuka is Tea-tree, sometimes spelled Ti-tree.
Tea-tree oil is commonly used in soaps and cosmetics overseas and is one of the most effective natural remedies for head lice. Same here except we call it Manuka.
Splitting hairs here. But theoretically NZ producers can trademark the mācroned name, as, while there is a history of teetrees there being called manuka, the macron is local to Te Reo Māori and NZ.
A map of NZ with our NZ product label would differentiate our honey.
Apparently, the NZ manuka honey producers association has successfully trademarked Unique Mānuka Factor UMF TM. Australian honey producers are free to market their own validated bioactive trademark. It just can't be UMF.
The reason why Aussie honey producers want in is because NZ honey exports increased from $97k to $480k from 2010 to 2021. Most of this increased value is due to NZ investment in bioactive quality validation and to brand marketing into the wellness food space.
You can't import Australian honey to NZ, so UMF is all you'll get. For disease reasons, imports of honey can only come into NZ from a few Pacific Islands.
That sounds like a very good idea. I'm not a lawyer though.
I guess the problem would be that no-one living outside New Zealand would realise there was a difference between the word with and without the macron. They would probably assume a bad printing job for the label.
Map of NZ it is, then.
I'd have thought that going down the route that the EU uses in AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) might well pay dividends on the trade side.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appellation_d%27origine_contr%C3%B4l%C3%A9e
The latest Horizon poll – Labour and the Greens on 61 seats and able to form a government.
National on 23% support – which must be close to their historic low! Thanks, Christopher!
https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/668/labour-and-
oh no!
and Horizon is so accurate!
What is your case for sneering@horizon…?
At first glance the regional info is impressive…and the clear explanation of the various coalition formulae is useful..
And national are a political party in decline..
They have no idea of what to do to fix what we face..
Just the same old same old key era styling promises for big tax cuts for the richest..and chewing gum tax givebacks for the rest of us…
The words coming from them only demonstrate that bankruptcy of ideas..
Words/promises/imperatives from a byegone era…and it shows..!
And voters eyes then flick to the raving loons they would be in coalition with..
And aside from that small tranche of true believers who vote for them..the rest of us just shift uneasily in our seats at the very thought of it…
One valuable role that act plays is that they make the greens seem…to middle new zealanders…with an ill-defined but growing environmental awareness..like a safe pair of hands..
Whereas act froth at the mouth at the idea of cutting benefits..and the like..
Total bastards..basically..
(And if I could shoehorn in a prediction… should nact get over the line..the country will explode into direct action on matters environmental..and the like..)
But back to my original question..what is yr problem with horizon..?
Absolutely! And the poll shows the right-wingers are turning to Act and NZ First (both in despair, I suspect!)
I don't have a problem with Horizon – however, looking at the combined results of polls over the last 5 months – they have National weighted way lower than any of the rest. Every other poll since the last one they did in January (where they had National at 27%) – has had National between 32-35%. We then go back to their previous poll in October (National 26%) – but every other poll between October and January had National between 32-40%
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2023_New_Zealand_general_election
Now that may be accurate – they may have a hotline to the 'truth' (who knows until we get to October) – but when there is an outlier result like that, I'm more inclined to view it with several grains of salt.
The only explanation in their methodology I can see is that they only poll people who are 100% likely to vote. So are likely to get higher representation from those who are party loyalists who have already made up their minds. The relatively high ACT total (in comparison to other polls) would support this interpretation.
FWIW – I think that the right and left are too close to call ATM – as they have been for the last year or so.
As accurate as any other poll at this stage of the game!
The average home in the UK is now – 300,000 pounds.
Our's now $900,000 – at 50p, 450,000 pounds.
Our homes were value c$700,000 at the end of 2019, 350,000 pounds.