What has got to happen before the world declares an emergency and acts decisively to mitigate climate change?
Now you realise we are in the midst of dramatic climate change, what are you doing ?
“Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal during winter.
After New Zealand sweltered in record temperatures last month, the Arctic is also stewing in temperatures 25 degrees above normal. This latest huge temperature spike in the Arctic is another striking indicator of its rapidly transforming climate.
On Monday and Tuesday, the northernmost weather station in the world, Cape Morris Jesup at the northern tip of Greenland, experienced more than 24 hours of temperatures above freezing according to the Danish Meteorological Institute. “How weird is that?” tweeted Robert Rohde, a physicist at the University of California, in the US “Well it’s Arctic winter. The sun set in October and won’t be seen again until March. Perpetual night, but still above freezing.””
“Rick Thoman
@AlaskaWx
For Feb 20th, (unofficial) average daily temperature departure-from-normal for North Slope locales: Umiat: +45F (+25C) , Deadhorse +44F, Nuiqsut: +43F, Wainwright: +40F Utqiaġvik: +39F, Kaktovik +35F. “
“Scary stuff, on many levels,” tweeted Rick Thoman, an Alaskan meteorologist.
And as a result the ice is disappearing.
From the Washington Post article.
“The warmth over Alaska occurred as almost one-third of the ice covering the Bering Sea off Alaska’s West Coast vanished in just over a week during the middle of February, InsideClimateNews reported. Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist based in Alaska, posted that the overall sea ice extent on Feb. 20 was the lowest on a record by a long shot.”
Ed, don’t worry they are signing TPPA so that the wine growers like John Key, Fonterra which doubled milk productivity but failed to pass on to farmers in the previous decades (maybe the 8 million salary shows where some of the profits went and the millions of wasted money into international forays of farm owning in China and other countries), Silver Fern farms (50% foreign owned), and the billions going out from overseas banks will be business as usual – no new taxes!!!, as is building the luxury Hyatt in Auckland using cheap migrant labour as well as water bottling plants with our free water direct from the aquifer. Lucky them, they are the ‘winners’ and get that paltry ‘hopeful’ .03 – 1% after 16 years gain.
Yeah they know that Ed, neo liberalism has many faces and levels. I don’t see the likes of Nash, Mallard, Jones, Robertson, Curran, Marks etc as the saviours of anything except themselves.
Ben Elton’s ‘Stark’ is looking more like a documentary every cycle. IMO we’re seeing the powers that be going all out now with effective control of the pollies, the message and the resources achieved long ago.
At some stage the dam will break though.
The combination of climate change and poverty and inequality will see revolutions and uprisings. It could easily morph into a fascist takeover.
In the US, Europe.
Not here though.
Too apathetic by far.
I guess that’s why Thiel and other libertarian lowlife are buying their escape pads in the Southern Alps.
Yes Ed,
These airheads, and right wing Neo-liberals believe that Hollywood will come out with a movie that will fix the global climate change crisis.
This is due a a result of Hollywood now that has been taken over by the corporations who are reaping billions destroying our planet.
So naturally these “dirty several dozen corporations” will band together and use their ‘influence” to gloss over the failing earths future demise to climate change so Hollywood will l come to the rescue “fictitiously” we will see.
Remember John Key gave Warner bros over $40 million of our tax paid money to them so probably we are now indirectly helping to pay for these false spin-doctoring movies that will emerge over the next several years as our planet dies.
@ ED not only “harder to unpick neoliberal dogma” but longer and more expensive too. Time is not something you have after a natural disaster or if you find out you have only a few years left of water in the aquifer or you can’t afford the burgeoning health bills.
Reminds me of big tobacco that wielded so much power that inspite of all the evidence they were allowed to kill people for decades for profit while the tax payers paid the health bills and their clients were kept in the dark about the effects of smoking in case anyone pointing out the obvious were sued.
Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua board chair Catherine Isaac said she had advised Minister of Education Chris Hipkins the board would retire at the end of its current term on March 1.
Hipkins now gets to appoint a board that doesn’t hate the teaching profession. Yay.
Plus rail for Hawkes Bay and other regional development projects, EQC chair gone; today is a good day.
On a more sombre note, an honorary New Zealand citizen is apparently about to step down from the Aussie DPM position. And he provided such great material 😈
Tourist drivers are a massive issue throughout the South Island
I’m on the road a lot, daily I see tourists weaving, stopping dead, pulling out blind or u turning on blind corners. Daily.
It’s a miracle more people aren’t dead, pure luck.
Some of it is fatigue: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12000200
Our tourist roads are clogged with rental vehicles driven by people without the skill to handle narrow winding open roads let alone fatigue as above. The roads themselves are bulging with more traffic than ever before and state highway 1 has more trucks than ever before,
It s simply another example of infrastructure underfunded.( and nationals sop to the trucking industry)
1) get long haul trucks back on rail
2) tourist cars should all have a T symbol to flag extra caution around them
3) there has to be a higher standard of driving from foreign drivers, must pass practical test before driving here
4) More passing lanes needed and rental companies to make sure tourists know to let traffic past. Frustration is killing
Today this new Labour coalition Government have a last chance to prove they are serious about the climate change issue as they are in Gisborne to release their agreement with NZ First to bring back our rail to Gisborne again after it was damaged in 2012 by national as Steven Joyce as Transport Minister stole the funds that kiwirail needed to protect the drains/culvetts from blocking in heavy rain, and Kiwirail admitted it was the lack of those funds that caused the washout along one km of rail line on 23rd march 2012.
Since then we have seen all other regional lines repaired except the Gisborne line so Labour “Lets do this”.to help reduce truck gridlock on our fragile regional roads and lower the climate change emissions at the same time.
A no brainer labour, as it was youe first PM in 1937 Michael Joseph Savage that finally built the rail sevice from Wairoa to Gisborne nearly 80yrs ago,, so you need to honour your own past rail policies now.
So National was guilty of wrecking our rail and after six long years we have had to wait for a labour lead government to finally reopen the rail service again.
Labour-Greens united on rail
Published: August 23, 2016 11:17AM
‘Wrong government in place’ to make rail a reality: Labour and Greens.
Labour-Greens united on rail
Published: August 23, 2016 11:17AM
QUOTE;
‘Wrong government in place’ to make rail a reality: Labour and Greens.
THE Labour and Green parties last night committed to re-opening the entire length of the Gisborne to Napier rail line but pointed out that would only happen if the National Party was removed from office.
but pointed out that would only happen if the National Party was removed from office. UNQUOTE;
We say to labour;
We will hold your Government to account here.as Jacinda has requested we do so in her speech at Waitangi day 2018.
Labour has promised in the Gisborne Herald press to reopen the rail services to Gisborne from Napier in 2016 before the election.
It seems rather a waste of time to argue for the restoration of the railway line from Napier to Gisborne if you really believe the dire predictions about sea-level change.
I think it is fair to say that any action by New Zealand alone isn’t going to have that much influence on the world’s temperature. We should probably evaluate any changes we might consider on the assumption that not that much change is accomplished by the rest of the world. Sure it might be a worst case. It is also the most likely case.
If we do have significant sea level rise the railway line will be washed out from about where it crosses the Ngaruroro river south of Napier until it reaches the junction with SH5 just past Bay View. The whole length is very close to the sea and probably won’r survive.
Not that anyone would notice of course. Is there enough demand to justify more than one train per week?
Some of what you say is true Alwyn,
Here are some facts to consider.
We certainly recognise that climate change will destroy the roads and rail around all our coastal regions so we do know from overseas and historical NZ press and Government records we have that their were many alternative rail routes that were proposed by NZ Government surveyors dating from 1882 (we have the surveyers maps) to as late as 1939.
There are several that are still viable “alternative routes should the current rail and road routes all fail through inundation or flooding or land that has been destroyed by shifting of riverbeds or earthquakes.
I agree that we need to think about river flows and all other changes on every route.
As you say the Ngaroro river may cause issues also but we imagine that the whole Heretanga plains may even wind up under water in future as it was before the 1931 earthquake sio we know that there was plan to take our rail around the back hills behind the plains and this is easy flat land that is easily available to place rail lines oper that land.
Do remember that the “footprint of a rail line is lass than one third as wide as placing a road and the Chinese now have fully constructed levelers and transporters of continuous rail lines to place new lines very quickly in far less time than it would take to prepare a new base and finish a roading system.
Thanks for the inoput as we need now to prepare for the future of our transport system as when it goes out we need to move to reconstruct.
We had a bad year for heavy storms in 2011 and the road between Napier to Gisborne was closed several times for days as many slips occurred on the road but guess what” the rail was still safe ad usable that year and our freight had increased from one train every three days to two trains every day and in the eight months before the fatal washout kiwi rail had moved 80 000 tonnes of freight which kiwi rail said in one year 100 000 tonnes would break even.
Kiwirail admitted at the HB Regional Council Transport meeting on 21st December 2011 that it had to turn three large customers away, so we were Pissed off at that; – because we had worked so hard to get more freight clients on rail again.
Kiwirail had no more wagons and locos to take on more freight that was asked to be sent on the lie so it was beginning to prove that rail was viable again.
Cleangreen, links to the Stuff and Herald articles on today’s announcements on the regional funding progamme and rail regeneration including between Napier – Wairoa for logging trains are at 14 and 14.1 below . Yay.
We had members of our group at the meeting today and no doubt we had them bending the ministers ears to get the rest of the rail link finished to Gisborne for all our regions future as freight and tourism is exploding here so we need passenger/tourism rail along with all freight now for our secure future.
See my response to Alwyn as he was correct we need to consider other routes if the land near the coast (which road and rail both follow) are both going to wind up under water like other regions will do also.
cleangreen
It is a real tonic to read such an informed regional lobby – and if others can get their facts in a row they have a chance of getting to a better economic level that is practical and really serves the people and their enterprises.
Yes the business’s in Gisborne and other regions all know that without rail they will suffer from “road cartel pricing ” and we have already seen major evidence of this when the final train left Gisborne after 20th March 2012, so to ensure “land based competition we need rail not only to lower road cost a safety and climate change but also for healthy transport competition which will give price and travel choices for their goods.
Its a start, cleangreen. And the PM etc made clear that yesterday’s announcements were just the start, with much more discussion etc and more projects, addtions etc to come over time.
I love your part of the country despite not having been there for years. As does the PM who is there often, with her partner being ‘a boy from Gisborne’.
That would be an interesting topic for a detailed post / discussion outlining NZTA’s objectives and the opposition to them, and by whom. Also who’s making / keeping it unseen.
With trains to the airport, tourists can relax get a look at the landscape and get safely to Whangerai, Tauranga , wherever then support these regional centers hiring their campers or cars in that region. Gets rid of all the hire places in the city , saves gas and perhaps a few lives and brings more employment to regions.
I also like the idea of Friday evening bar/railcars to Bay of Islands:
water taxis from Opua wharf , or the snow for weekend breaks.
I feel rail connects communities while building community by putting people in situations to communicate, rather than screaming at each other in steel boxes.
The worst on the Wellington trains I heard of was quite a number of years ago now. A friend of mine who was on the train has never forgotten it and still cannot find any polite words for the Green Party.
The Green Party were going to hold a conference in the Wairarapa. Being good little lads and ladesses they all decided to travel on the evening commuter train from Wellington. They never thought to advise the railways of the fact that they were planning to double the normal number of passengers.
They then all arrived early and took all the seats. The normal commuters had to stand nearly all the way, They were apparently most definitely not happy campers.
I haven’t been following the discussion on Russian meddling in American politics mainly because I consider the whole proposition bullshit – American politics are so fucked up the Russians simply don’t need to meddle!
But this quote from the World Socialist Web Site seemed ‘pretty relevant’ to me:
“Fifteen years ago, on February 5, 2003, against the backdrop of worldwide mass demonstrations in opposition to the impending invasion of Iraq, then-US Secretary of State Colin Powell argued before the United Nations that the government of Saddam Hussein was rapidly stockpiling “weapons of mass destruction,” which Iraq, together with Al Qaeda, was planning to use against the United States.
“There was only one problem with Powell’s presentation: it was a lie from beginning to end.
“Fifteen years later, the script has been pulled from the closet and dusted off. This time, instead of “weapons of mass destruction,” it is “Russian meddling in the US elections.” Once again, assertions by US intelligence agencies and operatives are treated as fact. Once again, the media is braying for war. Once again, the cynicism and hypocrisy of the American government—which intervenes in the domestic politics of every state on the planet and has been relentlessly expanding its operations in Eastern Europe—are ignored.”
As usual, the World Socialist Web Site is full of shit.
In 2003, the US administration was peddling lies about Iraq while the US intelligence services had a much more accurate view of the situation and did report that more accurate view. 15 years later, the US administration is peddling lies about its dealings with Russia while the intelligence services are reporting a much more accurate view.
So, yeah, the two situations are entirely comparable, just not in the way the WSWS would like.
While I agree the proposition that the Russian government was/is utilising social media platforms to “undermine democracy” is bullshit, and that the hue and cry over Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction was decidedly sickening – I think the comparison of the two is a bit off the mark.
A far more apt comparison for Iraq and WMD bullshit is Syria.
Here’s today’s Robert Fisk’s cogent piece in the Independent. It’s
worth contrasting and comparing it with today’s stenographic articles in The Guardian.
And yes, I also agree with PM that “The World Socialist Web” site thang leaves a lot to be desired. They won’t make the obvious parallel I just did in this comment because as far as they can figure, the goodness of any opposition to a government is generally beyond question – even when, as in the case of Syria, that opposition is to a government running a deeply interventionist economy of the type their ideological roots (authoritarian) lauded for decade after decade 😉
Good morning Am 3 news show people nice red jacket Duncan I a bit busy with the farm and the mokos it its excerlint that those 16 year old mokos won at the Winter Olympics.
Some tangata don’t realise how serious I take MY MOKOS future ECO MAORI Says that if they are trying to damage my credibility they are damageing My mokos future. Duncan Im that you learn by your mistakes we will have good thing going as I have said before I don’t like to have a negative effect on anyone go
Kia kaha Ka kite ano
Duncan I’m really pleased that Andrew Little is taking the bull by the horns a really good bloke and he has 300 signatures from people who work in OUR justice systems to back his moves to reform the justice system in Atoearoa.
ECO MAORI Says we all have to back Andrew and these changes will benefit all the people in Atoearoa.
Ka kite ano
Duncan I agree that Christen Bartle deserved to win New Zealand of the year she is a Great role model for all OUR Lady’s.
I was quietly backing Mike King.
But I’m a bit bias being Maori like you Ka pai. Ka kite ano
“Andrew Little is a remarkable man.” agree but even more surprising that he’s selling out on TPPA. Likewise Jacinda.
At the end of the day it will be the PM and people ex union leaders like Little that were in charge when it was signed who will be remembered as responsible for signing it.
If it was Brash, Key, Goff or Nash leading the charge for the .1% you could understand it, less so those with a few more principles.
His union mates don’t exactly agree…
“We appreciate the Government releasing the text and National Interest Analysis before signing, but that analysis is deeply flawed. It assumes that working people will find new employment immediately when their jobs are displaced by the CPTPP. That assumption is simply not supported by international evidence and New Zealand’s history of job losses.”
“At the end of the day it will be the PM and people ex union leaders like Little that were in charge when it was signed who will be remembered as responsible for signing it.”
Indeed, savenz. History will show the left initiated it and signed it off.
Today is mud shoveling day, beautiful weather outside. Taking the day off to help friends, a slip tore down their driveway and through the carport, luckily it just missed their house and garage. BYO shovel.
Huge kudos for the early storm warning at the start of the week, that helped so many people.
We were lucky at ours, kids did enjoy kayaking on the road in the rain water. Skimmer board at the park, what can you do, two days off school, make the most of a bad situation 🙂
Apples are everywhere in Riwaka, either side of the road, everywhere, need any apples to feed your stock or pigs etc, head to Riwaka and help yourself.
It’s a mess in our region, but on the upside, we’ve a stunning community and everyone is doing what they can to help those in need. Much love to everyone over the Bay, thinking of you all.
Anyone else wishing for a reincarnation of the Ministry of Works? A depot at either side of the hazard-prone areas. Blokes who knew their work. Sufficient equipment plus temporary bridges..
The private companies do their best – yet they’re not exactly set up to cope well with big wash outs and other natural disasters.
Perhaps we could add a new Works department to the regional development venture.
Andrea
Keep thinking MOW – we will have lots more national disasters. We don’t want private companies reporting on their annual financial sheets that they were good for profit. Poor little NZ being eaten by money-borers. We need a strong government that represents the people, let the others go and live on some island the Peter Thiel sets up. Just BO>
I agree – he just didn’t work as a front of house leader but as a guy who can work behind the scenes and just get things done he has really found his niche. Good and effective.
Having met him, (Andrew) he is far more engaging than he appears on TV, unless he is unaware of the camera. Bright intelligent blue eyes and an easy manner, showing interest in what you have to say. Andrew is a facilitator who brings good people on board and gets them motivated.
Agree! He also knows how to draw people out and plays to their strengths not their weaknesses. Bravo to him for thinking hard before committing to another (billion dollar) prison too!
Funny waste of QT yesterday when the Nat questioning if Iranian delgates refused to shake hands with Labour MPs. When my wife worked in Arab Emirates the men never touched/shook hands with her. No problem. Courtesy reigned. (One charming senior man would touch her elbow to elbow with a grin.).
Never be afraid of deceitful, dishonest and brutal power. That is true freedom.
Timely words in the light of the latest school massacre in Florida and the NRA chief’s indescribably awful responses. The NRA have purloined the words true freedom and have hoodwinked half a nation into believing owning guns is true freedom.
That is the brutality of the USA as it currently stands – aided and supported by a truly repugnant president and federal government.
Yes, lucky help is on the way for the loggers and multinational business interests with public money!
Would make more sense if actual jobs were part of the investment (aka loggers using it have to employ local workers at 40 hour weeks at x wages) and industry pay back the money or are they just expecting trickle down jobs and estimates with no stipulations whatsoever?
Also are they processing the logs here into value added goods with the proceeds going into NZ tax coffers or exporting the raw products?
Funny, residents in Auckland are expecting to pay petrol taxes and commuter charges in Auckland, multinational logging companies get free trains. It’s all about fairness to the .1%
No mention of a 10% increase in taxes on trucks on the road!
I really cannot be bothered with engaging with you savenz.
As Ad said to you at 11.1.1.2.1.under the “Nationals-meh-leadership-contest” post, do youself a favour do some proper research as it is a waste of time engaging with you otherwise.
As I noted in my reply to Ad at 11.1.1.2.1.2, you have posted a plethora of negative comments today under that post and here on OM and I predicted that you would do so in respect to the regional development funding announced today by the Government. True to form you did not disappoint.
Did you actually read the Herald article? Because that summarises the conditions for funding from the Provincial Growth Fund which iis aimed at boosting growth and creating jobs in the regions – eg this first round is expected to create more than 700 direct jobs and 60 indirect jobs.
“The criteria for funding will include an assessment on whether a project boost productivity, adds jobs, uses Maori or other assets week, and mitigates climate change. It will also have to add value, rather than duplicate work already happening and must have support from local groups. There must also be evidence of good governance and the ability to survive once the fund was exhausted.”
The article also covers the plans for the planting of trees this year and in the years to come. Go read it yourself – and the http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ website.
When 700 new jobs for LOCALS are created by the logging companies then let me know, sounds like you are referring to the entire growth fund not the article itself which talks about trains for the loggers to get trucks off the road.
No it’s a question, how much are the logging companies going to pay to get their logs transported by rail subsidised by taxpayers and why not add in a 10% tax on diesel if that’s what the are proposing to do to Aucklander’s or a ‘commuter charge for trucks.
Given the damage logging trucks do to the Napier-Wairoa road and the way they clog up this often passing-lane free and narrow highway, restoring rail service is a no-brainer. Unfortunately some of us were hoping for the Wairoa-Gisborne section to also be fixed.
We will continue our fight as we were there in 2009-2011 fighting to get the freight up on the Napier Gisborne line.
So Steven Joyce would keep it open (see my response and story on my response to Alwyn on 4.2.1.1)
As we were finding more freight for the line that kiwi rail admitted publicly on 21/12/2011 that they had no locos and wagons to carry it all and had to turn three large customers away then because we had found so many customers for them to use rail!!!!!
( I hope someone shoves this article in front of Shane Jones pronto.)
“The future of Auckland’s beaches and waterways will be doomed if the council is granted a consent to discharge stormwater for at least three more decades, an environmental researcher is warning.
The Auckland Council has applied for a 35-year consent to both divert stormwater through the public network and overland as well as discharging it into the environment.
Researcher John McCaffery said the application was insulting – as there was growing public concern over the discharge of contaminated storm-water and sewerage.
“Here we are right in the middle of conversations on how to deal with it and the council is saying in 30 days time we want you to give us approval to do whatever we choose to do for 35 years without constraints.”
I swear to god I just witnessed Illinois Gov. Rauner stir Hershey's syrup into milk, and take a big sip to symbolize his commitment to diversity. pic.twitter.com/E3rOFZ6wuC— Adrian (@blagojevism) February 21, 2018
Totally left field and nothing to do with anything discussed on OM so far today….my wife is being told she has to biff her (2Degrees) 2G phone…that she only uses for calls and texts…for a 4G phone.
She is resistant to this…environment etc…and wonders why a 2G phone would have to be made redundant rather than being able to keep it on using it just for texts/calls without access to data/networks etc.
2Degrees have told her something about different frequencies.
Can anyone explain this simply…I would be appreciative.
Drum , I got same message , you can check what network yr phone uses, top left hand corner of screen, if it says 3g you are fine – ignore message to up grade.
hope this helps.
Megan Woods, you dark horse!!! Ruthlessly sacking a member of the old male elite establishment without even a fig leaf of an excuse or a big golden handshake actually takes some doing, and will send shock waves through board rooms and mahogany lined club rooms everywhere.
The contrast with the buddy buddy nod nod wink wink crony capitalism of National (who couldn’t even get a conviction out of the CTV building or Pike River, total death toll 144) couldn’t be starker.
MANY THANKS to the good people on TVNZ 1 NEWS at 6pm.
Its good to hear you people use Climate change on the news that is reality the wind were that much stronger than a category 5 in Gita they need to raise the level two a category 6 Ka pai.
It also good to see you reporting that crime is dropping in Atoearoa that’s realistic when I tell he tangata that the justice system are corrupt the mokos are to scared to break the law Ka pai.
. P.S ECO MAORI can see the sandflys at it again spinning more lies to justify all the attention they give me they are sending millions trying to suppress me the fools. And some people are that gullible they are falling for there lies once again.
Did you see how biest the justice system is against MAORI 62% of men in jail are Maori and you still believe there bullshit lies?????? They got nothing why did they stop my givealittle.co.nz account because they are scared I will sue them for millions that’s reality. Why because you are all witness to the NZ police breaching all my rights and my familys rights. Ana to kai.
Ka kite ano
They locked up my uncle and killed him because they thought he was me they have got 2 other relatives of mine in jail because they thought these people were me. Many thanks to the person who they have been getting there information from for protectioning my identity till ECO MAORI is muture enough to handle there bullshit moves I will win this battle and force the police into submission.
Ka kite ano P.S. I have many whano in the hinaki but those 2 were set up buy the police
If I did not have the Mana of Eco Maori and thestandard.org.nz website to check the sandflys move and Im also aware I see them and smell them thanks to my Te puna gentic gifts the sandflys would have killed me on the roads by now.
Ka kite ano
So funny Hillary & Jeremy I had long hair and I was working hard fishing when I was 16 that was my second year I also was going to the pub set my deck hands tickets at 16 the tutor accused me of fakeing my 2 years experience fishing the skipper gave me a letter to confirm my experience he passed me I worked on 2 boats with him old Yella we called him lol I tried to work with him when I was in my 20ts one trip and I told him to stick it lol
Ka kite ano
What an insane world here in nz we apparently have a huge meth problem the stuff is currently selling for half the price of tobacco …(thanks ASH ) And 12 of our people DIED last year from smoking SYNTHETIC cannabis !!!! Im listening to naterly rnz was it this morn or yest morn hearing about a drug spraying chopper up arround the coramandle filling its herbacide tank on a beach !!! bad enough but what a fucked up stratedgy for dealing with very serious drug problems in nz CREATE SHORTAGES OF A NATRUAL PRODUCT ??????how fucked is that ???sorry about spelling
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Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
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 The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
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We should be concerned.
Very concerned.
What has got to happen before the world declares an emergency and acts decisively to mitigate climate change?
Now you realise we are in the midst of dramatic climate change, what are you doing ?
“Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal during winter.
After New Zealand sweltered in record temperatures last month, the Arctic is also stewing in temperatures 25 degrees above normal. This latest huge temperature spike in the Arctic is another striking indicator of its rapidly transforming climate.
On Monday and Tuesday, the northernmost weather station in the world, Cape Morris Jesup at the northern tip of Greenland, experienced more than 24 hours of temperatures above freezing according to the Danish Meteorological Institute. “How weird is that?” tweeted Robert Rohde, a physicist at the University of California, in the US “Well it’s Arctic winter. The sun set in October and won’t be seen again until March. Perpetual night, but still above freezing.””
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/101695872/arctic-temperatures-soar-25-degrees-above-normal-during-winter
As Rachel Stewart put it on Twitter
“Keep worrying about stupid shit, people. ”
The numbers put everything else into perspective.
“Rick Thoman
@AlaskaWx
For Feb 20th, (unofficial) average daily temperature departure-from-normal for North Slope locales: Umiat: +45F (+25C) , Deadhorse +44F, Nuiqsut: +43F, Wainwright: +40F Utqiaġvik: +39F, Kaktovik +35F. “
“Scary stuff, on many levels,” tweeted Rick Thoman, an Alaskan meteorologist.
And as a result the ice is disappearing.
From the Washington Post article.
“The warmth over Alaska occurred as almost one-third of the ice covering the Bering Sea off Alaska’s West Coast vanished in just over a week during the middle of February, InsideClimateNews reported. Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist based in Alaska, posted that the overall sea ice extent on Feb. 20 was the lowest on a record by a long shot.”
Ed, don’t worry they are signing TPPA so that the wine growers like John Key, Fonterra which doubled milk productivity but failed to pass on to farmers in the previous decades (maybe the 8 million salary shows where some of the profits went and the millions of wasted money into international forays of farm owning in China and other countries), Silver Fern farms (50% foreign owned), and the billions going out from overseas banks will be business as usual – no new taxes!!!, as is building the luxury Hyatt in Auckland using cheap migrant labour as well as water bottling plants with our free water direct from the aquifer. Lucky them, they are the ‘winners’ and get that paltry ‘hopeful’ .03 – 1% after 16 years gain.
The TPPA locks in an economic model that is killing life on this earth.
It will make it so much harder to unpick neoliberal dogma.
Yeah they know that Ed, neo liberalism has many faces and levels. I don’t see the likes of Nash, Mallard, Jones, Robertson, Curran, Marks etc as the saviours of anything except themselves.
Ben Elton’s ‘Stark’ is looking more like a documentary every cycle. IMO we’re seeing the powers that be going all out now with effective control of the pollies, the message and the resources achieved long ago.
At some stage the dam will break though.
The combination of climate change and poverty and inequality will see revolutions and uprisings. It could easily morph into a fascist takeover.
In the US, Europe.
Not here though.
Too apathetic by far.
I guess that’s why Thiel and other libertarian lowlife are buying their escape pads in the Southern Alps.
Yes, read stark.
The Uber wealthy have plan b’s bought and paid for just in case it’s gets a bit too hot, toxic, dangerous or it’s simply time to exit the scene.
We tick quite a few boxes with many spots inland, elevated, accessible by air easily, in a stable political country, defensible etc.
Yes Ed,
These airheads, and right wing Neo-liberals believe that Hollywood will come out with a movie that will fix the global climate change crisis.
This is due a a result of Hollywood now that has been taken over by the corporations who are reaping billions destroying our planet.
So naturally these “dirty several dozen corporations” will band together and use their ‘influence” to gloss over the failing earths future demise to climate change so Hollywood will l come to the rescue “fictitiously” we will see.
Remember John Key gave Warner bros over $40 million of our tax paid money to them so probably we are now indirectly helping to pay for these false spin-doctoring movies that will emerge over the next several years as our planet dies.
@ ED not only “harder to unpick neoliberal dogma” but longer and more expensive too. Time is not something you have after a natural disaster or if you find out you have only a few years left of water in the aquifer or you can’t afford the burgeoning health bills.
Reminds me of big tobacco that wielded so much power that inspite of all the evidence they were allowed to kill people for decades for profit while the tax payers paid the health bills and their clients were kept in the dark about the effects of smoking in case anyone pointing out the obvious were sued.
I am worried.
Equal pay activist Kristine Bartlett wins 2018 ‘New Zealander of the Year’: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/101677420/equal-pay-champion-kristine-bartlett-named-2018-new-zealander-of-the-year
Very good
Best news all week.
Fought, achieved, won, tens of thousands of low paid workers – including two of mine – benefited.
Fitting winner.
This reflects a change. The next group are negotiating Not in court. A good thing.
ACT have decided to throw their toys.
Hipkins now gets to appoint a board that doesn’t hate the teaching profession. Yay.
Wonderful news. A real turn about.
Plus rail for Hawkes Bay and other regional development projects, EQC chair gone; today is a good day.
On a more sombre note, an honorary New Zealand citizen is apparently about to step down from the Aussie DPM position. And he provided such great material 😈
and punches only slightly pulled by the Minister…
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/351098/eqc-overhaul-being-stuck-in-limbo-is-unacceptable
Great news all around – but a certain other person here will not agree re the rail etc. See the thread under my 14.1 below. LOL.
Thrilled for the regions. So change begins. Not too shabby or slow either!!
Tourist drivers are a massive issue throughout the South Island
I’m on the road a lot, daily I see tourists weaving, stopping dead, pulling out blind or u turning on blind corners. Daily.
It’s a miracle more people aren’t dead, pure luck.
Some of it is fatigue:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12000200
Our tourist roads are clogged with rental vehicles driven by people without the skill to handle narrow winding open roads let alone fatigue as above. The roads themselves are bulging with more traffic than ever before and state highway 1 has more trucks than ever before,
It s simply another example of infrastructure underfunded.( and nationals sop to the trucking industry)
1) get long haul trucks back on rail
2) tourist cars should all have a T symbol to flag extra caution around them
3) there has to be a higher standard of driving from foreign drivers, must pass practical test before driving here
4) More passing lanes needed and rental companies to make sure tourists know to let traffic past. Frustration is killing
Yes, in Rotorua we often get drivers slowing down to a crawl while they try to decide “which way?” or “look at that!”
They are mainly drivers of rental vehicles, as they are the largest touring group.
They are not prepared for our poor quality roads or the terrain.
KCCC
100
1000% well said keepcalmcarryon.
Today this new Labour coalition Government have a last chance to prove they are serious about the climate change issue as they are in Gisborne to release their agreement with NZ First to bring back our rail to Gisborne again after it was damaged in 2012 by national as Steven Joyce as Transport Minister stole the funds that kiwirail needed to protect the drains/culvetts from blocking in heavy rain, and Kiwirail admitted it was the lack of those funds that caused the washout along one km of rail line on 23rd march 2012.
Since then we have seen all other regional lines repaired except the Gisborne line so Labour “Lets do this”.to help reduce truck gridlock on our fragile regional roads and lower the climate change emissions at the same time.
A no brainer labour, as it was youe first PM in 1937 Michael Joseph Savage that finally built the rail sevice from Wairoa to Gisborne nearly 80yrs ago,, so you need to honour your own past rail policies now.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1302/S00183/kiwirail-admits-lack-of-maintenance-led-to-wash-out.htm
So National was guilty of wrecking our rail and after six long years we have had to wait for a labour lead government to finally reopen the rail service again.
Labour promises free-to-air RNZ TV channel
HENRY COOKE
Last updated 10:52, September 12 2017
http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2437884-135/labour-greens-united-on-rail
QUOTE.
Labour-Greens united on rail
Published: August 23, 2016 11:17AM
‘Wrong government in place’ to make rail a reality: Labour and Greens.
Labour-Greens united on rail
Published: August 23, 2016 11:17AM
QUOTE;
‘Wrong government in place’ to make rail a reality: Labour and Greens.
THE Labour and Green parties last night committed to re-opening the entire length of the Gisborne to Napier rail line but pointed out that would only happen if the National Party was removed from office.
but pointed out that would only happen if the National Party was removed from office. UNQUOTE;
We say to labour;
We will hold your Government to account here.as Jacinda has requested we do so in her speech at Waitangi day 2018.
Labour has promised in the Gisborne Herald press to reopen the rail services to Gisborne from Napier in 2016 before the election.
Last message to you all on 17th February 2018.
http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2437884-135/labour-greens-united-on-rail
It seems rather a waste of time to argue for the restoration of the railway line from Napier to Gisborne if you really believe the dire predictions about sea-level change.
I think it is fair to say that any action by New Zealand alone isn’t going to have that much influence on the world’s temperature. We should probably evaluate any changes we might consider on the assumption that not that much change is accomplished by the rest of the world. Sure it might be a worst case. It is also the most likely case.
If we do have significant sea level rise the railway line will be washed out from about where it crosses the Ngaruroro river south of Napier until it reaches the junction with SH5 just past Bay View. The whole length is very close to the sea and probably won’r survive.
Not that anyone would notice of course. Is there enough demand to justify more than one train per week?
Some of what you say is true Alwyn,
Here are some facts to consider.
We certainly recognise that climate change will destroy the roads and rail around all our coastal regions so we do know from overseas and historical NZ press and Government records we have that their were many alternative rail routes that were proposed by NZ Government surveyors dating from 1882 (we have the surveyers maps) to as late as 1939.
There are several that are still viable “alternative routes should the current rail and road routes all fail through inundation or flooding or land that has been destroyed by shifting of riverbeds or earthquakes.
I agree that we need to think about river flows and all other changes on every route.
As you say the Ngaroro river may cause issues also but we imagine that the whole Heretanga plains may even wind up under water in future as it was before the 1931 earthquake sio we know that there was plan to take our rail around the back hills behind the plains and this is easy flat land that is easily available to place rail lines oper that land.
Do remember that the “footprint of a rail line is lass than one third as wide as placing a road and the Chinese now have fully constructed levelers and transporters of continuous rail lines to place new lines very quickly in far less time than it would take to prepare a new base and finish a roading system.
Thanks for the inoput as we need now to prepare for the future of our transport system as when it goes out we need to move to reconstruct.
We had a bad year for heavy storms in 2011 and the road between Napier to Gisborne was closed several times for days as many slips occurred on the road but guess what” the rail was still safe ad usable that year and our freight had increased from one train every three days to two trains every day and in the eight months before the fatal washout kiwi rail had moved 80 000 tonnes of freight which kiwi rail said in one year 100 000 tonnes would break even.
Kiwirail admitted at the HB Regional Council Transport meeting on 21st December 2011 that it had to turn three large customers away, so we were Pissed off at that; – because we had worked so hard to get more freight clients on rail again.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6170590/At-risk-rail-line-can-t-cope-with-demand
Kiwirail had no more wagons and locos to take on more freight that was asked to be sent on the lie so it was beginning to prove that rail was viable again.
Cleangreen, links to the Stuff and Herald articles on today’s announcements on the regional funding progamme and rail regeneration including between Napier – Wairoa for logging trains are at 14 and 14.1 below . Yay.
Yes veutoviper,
We had members of our group at the meeting today and no doubt we had them bending the ministers ears to get the rest of the rail link finished to Gisborne for all our regions future as freight and tourism is exploding here so we need passenger/tourism rail along with all freight now for our secure future.
See my response to Alwyn as he was correct we need to consider other routes if the land near the coast (which road and rail both follow) are both going to wind up under water like other regions will do also.
Thanks for the input.
cleangreen
It is a real tonic to read such an informed regional lobby – and if others can get their facts in a row they have a chance of getting to a better economic level that is practical and really serves the people and their enterprises.
greywarshark,
Yes the business’s in Gisborne and other regions all know that without rail they will suffer from “road cartel pricing ” and we have already seen major evidence of this when the final train left Gisborne after 20th March 2012, so to ensure “land based competition we need rail not only to lower road cost a safety and climate change but also for healthy transport competition which will give price and travel choices for their goods.
cleangreen
Gisborne and you’all – kia kaha.
Its a start, cleangreen. And the PM etc made clear that yesterday’s announcements were just the start, with much more discussion etc and more projects, addtions etc to come over time.
I love your part of the country despite not having been there for years. As does the PM who is there often, with her partner being ‘a boy from Gisborne’.
Hope you don’t mind, but used your posts here on OM 23 Feb re rail in Hawkes Bay in a big comment on OM 24 Feb to reply to a question re whether the line will be utilised at https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24-02-2018/#comment-1453366
Meant as a holding reply as you did not seem to around. You may wish to reply also and correct anything I said (you’re the expert, not me).
.
NZTA are trying to reform their licensing and regulatory systems internally but there are multiple vested industrial interests opposing it.
A largely unseen fight but a real biggie.
That would be an interesting topic for a detailed post / discussion outlining NZTA’s objectives and the opposition to them, and by whom. Also who’s making / keeping it unseen.
+1
Absolutely. We are struggling against great wealth and power probably, and they like anonymity.
But tourists the economic miracle of NZ! Supporting luxury hotels, Sky city, tour bus companies etc!
With trains to the airport, tourists can relax get a look at the landscape and get safely to Whangerai, Tauranga , wherever then support these regional centers hiring their campers or cars in that region. Gets rid of all the hire places in the city , saves gas and perhaps a few lives and brings more employment to regions.
I also like the idea of Friday evening bar/railcars to Bay of Islands:
water taxis from Opua wharf , or the snow for weekend breaks.
I feel rail connects communities while building community by putting people in situations to communicate, rather than screaming at each other in steel boxes.
This would count, I suppose, as people “screaming at each other in steel boxes”.
The photo at the start of the article certainly looks like that.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/101736914/passengers-once-again-frustrated-with-wellingtons-overcrowded-train-services
The worst on the Wellington trains I heard of was quite a number of years ago now. A friend of mine who was on the train has never forgotten it and still cannot find any polite words for the Green Party.
The Green Party were going to hold a conference in the Wairarapa. Being good little lads and ladesses they all decided to travel on the evening commuter train from Wellington. They never thought to advise the railways of the fact that they were planning to double the normal number of passengers.
They then all arrived early and took all the seats. The normal commuters had to stand nearly all the way, They were apparently most definitely not happy campers.
I haven’t been following the discussion on Russian meddling in American politics mainly because I consider the whole proposition bullshit – American politics are so fucked up the Russians simply don’t need to meddle!
But this quote from the World Socialist Web Site seemed ‘pretty relevant’ to me:
“Fifteen years ago, on February 5, 2003, against the backdrop of worldwide mass demonstrations in opposition to the impending invasion of Iraq, then-US Secretary of State Colin Powell argued before the United Nations that the government of Saddam Hussein was rapidly stockpiling “weapons of mass destruction,” which Iraq, together with Al Qaeda, was planning to use against the United States.
“There was only one problem with Powell’s presentation: it was a lie from beginning to end.
“Fifteen years later, the script has been pulled from the closet and dusted off. This time, instead of “weapons of mass destruction,” it is “Russian meddling in the US elections.” Once again, assertions by US intelligence agencies and operatives are treated as fact. Once again, the media is braying for war. Once again, the cynicism and hypocrisy of the American government—which intervenes in the domestic politics of every state on the planet and has been relentlessly expanding its operations in Eastern Europe—are ignored.”
My God, we are a gullible species!
As usual, the World Socialist Web Site is full of shit.
In 2003, the US administration was peddling lies about Iraq while the US intelligence services had a much more accurate view of the situation and did report that more accurate view. 15 years later, the US administration is peddling lies about its dealings with Russia while the intelligence services are reporting a much more accurate view.
So, yeah, the two situations are entirely comparable, just not in the way the WSWS would like.
While I agree the proposition that the Russian government was/is utilising social media platforms to “undermine democracy” is bullshit, and that the hue and cry over Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction was decidedly sickening – I think the comparison of the two is a bit off the mark.
A far more apt comparison for Iraq and WMD bullshit is Syria.
Here’s today’s Robert Fisk’s cogent piece in the Independent. It’s
worth contrasting and comparing it with today’s stenographic articles in The Guardian.
And yes, I also agree with PM that “The World Socialist Web” site thang leaves a lot to be desired. They won’t make the obvious parallel I just did in this comment because as far as they can figure, the goodness of any opposition to a government is generally beyond question – even when, as in the case of Syria, that opposition is to a government running a deeply interventionist economy of the type their ideological roots (authoritarian) lauded for decade after decade 😉
Thanks for the link to Fisk Bill.
“The World Socialist Web” are bunch of america Trots, treat that as you will.
Everyone can relax. It’s ok to watch Ocean Man again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E5m_XtCX3c
Good morning Am 3 news show people nice red jacket Duncan I a bit busy with the farm and the mokos it its excerlint that those 16 year old mokos won at the Winter Olympics.
Some tangata don’t realise how serious I take MY MOKOS future ECO MAORI Says that if they are trying to damage my credibility they are damageing My mokos future. Duncan Im that you learn by your mistakes we will have good thing going as I have said before I don’t like to have a negative effect on anyone go
Kia kaha Ka kite ano
Duncan I’m really pleased that Andrew Little is taking the bull by the horns a really good bloke and he has 300 signatures from people who work in OUR justice systems to back his moves to reform the justice system in Atoearoa.
ECO MAORI Says we all have to back Andrew and these changes will benefit all the people in Atoearoa.
Ka kite ano
Duncan I agree that Christen Bartle deserved to win New Zealand of the year she is a Great role model for all OUR Lady’s.
I was quietly backing Mike King.
But I’m a bit bias being Maori like you Ka pai. Ka kite ano
Andrew Little is a remarkable man.
+ infinity, he sure is.
“Andrew Little is a remarkable man.” agree but even more surprising that he’s selling out on TPPA. Likewise Jacinda.
At the end of the day it will be the PM and people ex union leaders like Little that were in charge when it was signed who will be remembered as responsible for signing it.
If it was Brash, Key, Goff or Nash leading the charge for the .1% you could understand it, less so those with a few more principles.
Why is it surprising?
He understands the frameworks…he was given access to the monetary and fiscal ‘realities’…
Yet little et al still vote for TPP…
Of course they do…
Remarkable. NO
@ One Two
His union mates don’t exactly agree…
“We appreciate the Government releasing the text and National Interest Analysis before signing, but that analysis is deeply flawed. It assumes that working people will find new employment immediately when their jobs are displaced by the CPTPP. That assumption is simply not supported by international evidence and New Zealand’s history of job losses.”
http://www.union.org.nz/economist-still-concerned-about-tppa-11s-implications-for-working-people/
“At the end of the day it will be the PM and people ex union leaders like Little that were in charge when it was signed who will be remembered as responsible for signing it.”
Indeed, savenz. History will show the left initiated it and signed it off.
While, ironically, the left largely oppose it.
I think you may be in for quite a few surprises.
Today is mud shoveling day, beautiful weather outside. Taking the day off to help friends, a slip tore down their driveway and through the carport, luckily it just missed their house and garage. BYO shovel.
Huge kudos for the early storm warning at the start of the week, that helped so many people.
We were lucky at ours, kids did enjoy kayaking on the road in the rain water. Skimmer board at the park, what can you do, two days off school, make the most of a bad situation 🙂
Apples are everywhere in Riwaka, either side of the road, everywhere, need any apples to feed your stock or pigs etc, head to Riwaka and help yourself.
It’s a mess in our region, but on the upside, we’ve a stunning community and everyone is doing what they can to help those in need. Much love to everyone over the Bay, thinking of you all.
Anyone else wishing for a reincarnation of the Ministry of Works? A depot at either side of the hazard-prone areas. Blokes who knew their work. Sufficient equipment plus temporary bridges..
The private companies do their best – yet they’re not exactly set up to cope well with big wash outs and other natural disasters.
Perhaps we could add a new Works department to the regional development venture.
Sounds like a great community Cinny.
Andrea
Keep thinking MOW – we will have lots more national disasters. We don’t want private companies reporting on their annual financial sheets that they were good for profit. Poor little NZ being eaten by money-borers. We need a strong government that represents the people, let the others go and live on some island the Peter Thiel sets up. Just BO>
Andrew is far better as a rear guard support MP.
Andrew seems to get things done “quietly, quickly, and efficiently” without any fuss and controversy.
I agree – he just didn’t work as a front of house leader but as a guy who can work behind the scenes and just get things done he has really found his niche. Good and effective.
Having met him, (Andrew) he is far more engaging than he appears on TV, unless he is unaware of the camera. Bright intelligent blue eyes and an easy manner, showing interest in what you have to say. Andrew is a facilitator who brings good people on board and gets them motivated.
Agree! He also knows how to draw people out and plays to their strengths not their weaknesses. Bravo to him for thinking hard before committing to another (billion dollar) prison too!
I prefer the Iranian custom of greeting women by placing a hand over their heart and bowing the head slightly. It has a sweetness about it.
Funny waste of QT yesterday when the Nat questioning if Iranian delgates refused to shake hands with Labour MPs. When my wife worked in Arab Emirates the men never touched/shook hands with her. No problem. Courtesy reigned. (One charming senior man would touch her elbow to elbow with a grin.).
Uplifting Friday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyMHCDqiKGw
Her final words:
Timely words in the light of the latest school massacre in Florida and the NRA chief’s indescribably awful responses. The NRA have purloined the words true freedom and have hoodwinked half a nation into believing owning guns is true freedom.
That is the brutality of the USA as it currently stands – aided and supported by a truly repugnant president and federal government.
it’s funny isn’t it… I was drawn to NZ’s treatment, as it currently stands, of Maori.
Interesting, the regional development fund gets underway
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101706620/shane-jones-doles-out-millions-to-northland-hawkes-bay-and-rail-regeneration
Cleangreen will be thrilled re Napier – Wairoa rail regeneration, although I note it seems to be for logging trains only.
The Herald article below has more detail set out by region etc.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12000424
Yes, lucky help is on the way for the loggers and multinational business interests with public money!
Would make more sense if actual jobs were part of the investment (aka loggers using it have to employ local workers at 40 hour weeks at x wages) and industry pay back the money or are they just expecting trickle down jobs and estimates with no stipulations whatsoever?
Also are they processing the logs here into value added goods with the proceeds going into NZ tax coffers or exporting the raw products?
Funny, residents in Auckland are expecting to pay petrol taxes and commuter charges in Auckland, multinational logging companies get free trains. It’s all about fairness to the .1%
No mention of a 10% increase in taxes on trucks on the road!
I really cannot be bothered with engaging with you savenz.
As Ad said to you at 11.1.1.2.1.under the “Nationals-meh-leadership-contest” post, do youself a favour do some proper research as it is a waste of time engaging with you otherwise.
As I noted in my reply to Ad at 11.1.1.2.1.2, you have posted a plethora of negative comments today under that post and here on OM and I predicted that you would do so in respect to the regional development funding announced today by the Government. True to form you did not disappoint.
Did you actually read the Herald article? Because that summarises the conditions for funding from the Provincial Growth Fund which iis aimed at boosting growth and creating jobs in the regions – eg this first round is expected to create more than 700 direct jobs and 60 indirect jobs.
“The criteria for funding will include an assessment on whether a project boost productivity, adds jobs, uses Maori or other assets week, and mitigates climate change. It will also have to add value, rather than duplicate work already happening and must have support from local groups. There must also be evidence of good governance and the ability to survive once the fund was exhausted.”
The article also covers the plans for the planting of trees this year and in the years to come. Go read it yourself – and the http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ website.
Bye.
When 700 new jobs for LOCALS are created by the logging companies then let me know, sounds like you are referring to the entire growth fund not the article itself which talks about trains for the loggers to get trucks off the road.
Have you got proof logging companies get their logs transported on rail for free or are you lying
No it’s a question, how much are the logging companies going to pay to get their logs transported by rail subsidised by taxpayers and why not add in a 10% tax on diesel if that’s what the are proposing to do to Aucklander’s or a ‘commuter charge for trucks.
Let me know, bwaghorn.
Given the damage logging trucks do to the Napier-Wairoa road and the way they clog up this often passing-lane free and narrow highway, restoring rail service is a no-brainer. Unfortunately some of us were hoping for the Wairoa-Gisborne section to also be fixed.
Maybe next time.
Yes grey Area;-
We will continue our fight as we were there in 2009-2011 fighting to get the freight up on the Napier Gisborne line.
So Steven Joyce would keep it open (see my response and story on my response to Alwyn on 4.2.1.1)
As we were finding more freight for the line that kiwi rail admitted publicly on 21/12/2011 that they had no locos and wagons to carry it all and had to turn three large customers away then because we had found so many customers for them to use rail!!!!!
( I hope someone shoves this article in front of Shane Jones pronto.)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6170590/At-risk-rail-line-can-t-cope-with-demand
Even more interesting is the proposal for Landcorp to enter the forestry business….
Are there actually business cases for these projects? BCRs? I am struggling to avoid the suspicion that a lot of the work is just pork barrel…
A.
“The future of Auckland’s beaches and waterways will be doomed if the council is granted a consent to discharge stormwater for at least three more decades, an environmental researcher is warning.
The Auckland Council has applied for a 35-year consent to both divert stormwater through the public network and overland as well as discharging it into the environment.
Researcher John McCaffery said the application was insulting – as there was growing public concern over the discharge of contaminated storm-water and sewerage.
“Here we are right in the middle of conversations on how to deal with it and the council is saying in 30 days time we want you to give us approval to do whatever we choose to do for 35 years without constraints.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/351044/stark-warning-over-auckland-s-beaches-and-waterways
Raw sewage spills onto Nelson beaches
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/350189/raw-sewage-spills-onto-nelson-beaches
Oh boy.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-met-rauner-chocolate-milk-0223-chicago-inc-20180222-story.html
Totally left field and nothing to do with anything discussed on OM so far today….my wife is being told she has to biff her (2Degrees) 2G phone…that she only uses for calls and texts…for a 4G phone.
She is resistant to this…environment etc…and wonders why a 2G phone would have to be made redundant rather than being able to keep it on using it just for texts/calls without access to data/networks etc.
2Degrees have told her something about different frequencies.
Can anyone explain this simply…I would be appreciative.
Drum , I got same message , you can check what network yr phone uses, top left hand corner of screen, if it says 3g you are fine – ignore message to up grade.
hope this helps.
Changing technologies. Basically it’s not worth keeping old technology going. That would apply whether it was market driven or other.
Barnaby Joyce – gone!
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/351108/barnaby-joyce-steps-down-as-australia-s-deputy-pm
Oh dear! How SAD…..
Never mind.
🙂
That took longer than I thought it would.
Marco sums it up well though.
NZ yet again ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’.
yawn …..
This is what I said about the, IMO, BULLSHIT Transparency International 2016 Corruption Perception Index last year.
What’s changed?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1701/S00171/the-2016-corruption-perception-index-isnt-worth-the-paper.htm
Press Release: Penny Bright Independent candidate Mt Albert by-election
”The 2016 Corruption Perception Index isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.”
IMO the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is utter garbage.
When are mainstream media going to ever interview me, to give my considered opinion, as an (unprotected) proven NZ
anti-corruption ‘whistle-blower’?
When you start a consultancy that publishes vacuous bullshit, probably. Just got to come up with some aspiration marketing nonsense.
How do we do it – least corrupt country – I would say most propagandised country – 100% Pure for instance.
Megan Woods, you dark horse!!! Ruthlessly sacking a member of the old male elite establishment without even a fig leaf of an excuse or a big golden handshake actually takes some doing, and will send shock waves through board rooms and mahogany lined club rooms everywhere.
The contrast with the buddy buddy nod nod wink wink crony capitalism of National (who couldn’t even get a conviction out of the CTV building or Pike River, total death toll 144) couldn’t be starker.
Real leadership, at last.
Brilliant! Today has been a very positive day!
BUT. but, but – he resigned of his own accord, didn’t he????
Easiest way to get rid of someone who was following orders. Especially at that level. cheaper to pay them to leave than to give them grounds to sue
MANY THANKS to the good people on TVNZ 1 NEWS at 6pm.
Its good to hear you people use Climate change on the news that is reality the wind were that much stronger than a category 5 in Gita they need to raise the level two a category 6 Ka pai.
It also good to see you reporting that crime is dropping in Atoearoa that’s realistic when I tell he tangata that the justice system are corrupt the mokos are to scared to break the law Ka pai.
. P.S ECO MAORI can see the sandflys at it again spinning more lies to justify all the attention they give me they are sending millions trying to suppress me the fools. And some people are that gullible they are falling for there lies once again.
Did you see how biest the justice system is against MAORI 62% of men in jail are Maori and you still believe there bullshit lies?????? They got nothing why did they stop my givealittle.co.nz account because they are scared I will sue them for millions that’s reality. Why because you are all witness to the NZ police breaching all my rights and my familys rights. Ana to kai.
Ka kite ano
They locked up my uncle and killed him because they thought he was me they have got 2 other relatives of mine in jail because they thought these people were me. Many thanks to the person who they have been getting there information from for protectioning my identity till ECO MAORI is muture enough to handle there bullshit moves I will win this battle and force the police into submission.
Ka kite ano P.S. I have many whano in the hinaki but those 2 were set up buy the police
If I did not have the Mana of Eco Maori and thestandard.org.nz website to check the sandflys move and Im also aware I see them and smell them thanks to my Te puna gentic gifts the sandflys would have killed me on the roads by now.
Ka kite ano
The reason I have made the statement above is because the sandflys have been behaveing really bad on the roads for months Ana to kai
So funny Hillary & Jeremy I had long hair and I was working hard fishing when I was 16 that was my second year I also was going to the pub set my deck hands tickets at 16 the tutor accused me of fakeing my 2 years experience fishing the skipper gave me a letter to confirm my experience he passed me I worked on 2 boats with him old Yella we called him lol I tried to work with him when I was in my 20ts one trip and I told him to stick it lol
Ka kite ano
What an insane world here in nz we apparently have a huge meth problem the stuff is currently selling for half the price of tobacco …(thanks ASH ) And 12 of our people DIED last year from smoking SYNTHETIC cannabis !!!! Im listening to naterly rnz was it this morn or yest morn hearing about a drug spraying chopper up arround the coramandle filling its herbacide tank on a beach !!! bad enough but what a fucked up stratedgy for dealing with very serious drug problems in nz CREATE SHORTAGES OF A NATRUAL PRODUCT ??????how fucked is that ???sorry about spelling
You made your very good point weston which i think most will agree with.