Open mike 24/02/2021
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- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...4 hours ago - Dance Magic
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...16 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...16 hours ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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- As Our Power Lessens: Published
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...1 day ago - By Any Other Name.
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...2 days ago - 2024 OIA stats
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...2 days ago - Climate Change: A perverse incentive
The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...3 days ago
- Economic Bulletin December 2024
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...3 days ago - NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...3 days ago
- ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...3 days ago - Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...3 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
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The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...3 days ago
- The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...3 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...3 days ago
- Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...3 days ago - Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...4 days ago
- GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...4 days ago
- Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...4 days ago
- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...4 days ago - Back on Track
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...4 days ago - Book Review: How Big Things Get Done
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner Want to know how to do something big? Ask someone who has done it before! Professor Bent Flyvbjerg has spent his career studying megaprojects. In 2023, ...4 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...4 days ago - Dragging our way towards the finish line, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for many…
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...4 days ago - Handling Democracy.
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...4 days ago
- Open letter to the Minister of Dwindling Finances
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...4 days ago - Open Government: The joke ends
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Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...4 days ago - This substack has talked about this government’s seeming corruption & pro-corporate issues...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...4 days ago - NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban
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- Wednesday 18 December
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...5 days ago
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The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...5 days ago
- Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...5 days ago - Member’s morning
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...5 days ago
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We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...5 days ago - Blaming Treasury & Labour, Willis looks for even more Austerity
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...5 days ago
- December-24 AT Board Meeting
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...5 days ago
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Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...5 days ago - It could have been worse
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...5 days ago
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The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...5 days ago - Willis’ austerity strategy just isn’t working
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...5 days ago
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5 days ago - ‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers
Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...5 days ago - Corrections is torturing prisoners again
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...5 days ago
- HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...5 days ago
- “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...5 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
- Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...6 days ago
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In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...6 days ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...6 days ago
- Govt to double number of toll roads
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The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...6 days ago
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- More public service contempt of parliament
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And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...7 days ago - A Lipstick Government
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...1 week ago
- Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...1 week ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 week ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...1 week ago
- Showing the Americans how to do it
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...1 week ago
- 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
- National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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What happened to the concept of walking—or even jogging—to school?
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/children-barred-from-school-bus-by-117-year-old-law/
Not safe, as no footpaths and traffic including trucks on a narrow country road.- so the parents take a car
It is odd cause the school bus goes past their gate, and an extra stop would not be difficult.
did you not even read your own link Morrissey?
Can he read??
Yes I did. I wasn't endorsing it—particularly as it came from the site of the world's most egregious radio station.
I was using it as a springboard for discussion.
Your most compelling argument by far here on TS.
Holy S#$t! The Westpac economist on One ZB saying he thinks house prices will increase more this year than they did last year!
is this a surprise?
no, its criminal.
yes, its criminal that media get economist who got everything wrong last year to come back and make more guesses. its criminal that too many people continue to listen to these snake oil merchants, and think they are above mistakes. its criminal to have people expect a time of super low interest rates, and rapid intake of cashed up kiwis returning to NZ to have any affect BUT rising house prices. ask your local taxi driver or hairdresser and they would tell you the same thing. if fact, ask your local criminals, they would agree.
Yes I always take economists predictions with a grain of salt after Shamubeel Eaqub wrote that article several years back on how it was better to rent in Auckland than to buy a property.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/rent-dont-buy-says-economist/MP2TXZUW4XY75NXXR7ADLDM7FI/
This is possibly what earned him the nickname “Shambles” in some circles.
Ironically he did buy a few years later when he saw the light!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/94966044/shamubeel-eaqub-ive-bought-a-house-at-last
Please I really hope his forecast is wrong and that house prices stabilise.
Secondary students need to live 4.8 km from the college to be eligible to board the bus. The weather would be changeable, students could be approached and a traffic accident could occur.
What an outdated piece of legislation, it is like asking students to do a 10 km sponsored walk each day.
How long would it take to a walk 3.8 km distance?
on a road with no separated foot path? Probably an hour either way?
I did reread the article and the time it takes to walk 3.8 km is nearly an hour.
Thanks.
No wonder Kenya is killing us when it comes to middle and long distance running.
It's not about fitness it's about safety
Yeah, right. Tui.
So…. Kenya is not leaving us in the dust (metaphorically) in track and road running?
The school curriculum offers PE before, during and after school in NZ.
No wonder some students hate PE during school hours.
assuming they are, what's your point? We should have more death/disability so we can participate at the Olympics?
That's a moot point, weka. For a long time I've felt the same way about the Olympics as 90 per cent of the Japanese population does: I want them cancelled. Forever.
I don't see a ute screaming down that road at 100kph, or tanker and stock trucks also using it.
an hour. Read the link.
I later saw that as I was distracted by listening to the latest Covid news when I first read the link.
Remember Filbert Bayi? As a school boy he ran from home some 12 km to school, and then back, – a 120 km week, minimum.
At 5000 feet above sea level aiding blood oxygen carriage and running on surfaces that also helped develop leg strength.
Bayi is still the fastest Commonwealth Games 1500m runner.
"Snappy dresser, snappy runner!"—Keith Quinn re Filbert Bayi, 2/2/1974
For that small group of us with an interest in actual comprehensive human rights, decency and the rule of law….disturbing news from the UK…where…with Boris in charge…and Starmer being a "good boy" , are about to pass a law that will have a myriad of terrible consequences…I've taken this from the Jacobin…I know the Guardian would seem a more credible source of information…but they seem to have very little to say about the bill…beyond small scale reporting of "peers debating' and crimes that may or may not have been committed…The Guardian who are also being "Good Boys and Girls" and not actually interested in upsetting the apple cart of power..
The article goes on to say…
I apologise for the massive quotes…but I believe that this is a terrible bill with broad, and ultimately international consequences…and yet another example of Labour and the Greens, world wide, compromising our future in the name of appearing "reasonable", benignly Centrist (no such thing) and "broad church"…as if thats a good thing…and as if that will save us all…
Good comment except for your very last words, which lack any sense of perspective on reality and are a broad-brush fidget of fantasy:
No need to repeat my quote…but thank you anyway Incognito.
If you have some words of your own as to in what way this is a "broad-brush fidget of fantasy" given the actual reality of what is happening in regards to laws and policy…and the reality of how the Greens and Labour (UK…and NZ) sell themselves at Election time…I'll be more than happy to read them.
I never fancied myself as an online entertainer.
laid-back
No surprises with Starmer. He is the human rights lawyer who embraces Shafting Assange and supporting his wife's Zionism, Regarding the latter, he seems quite content to stand back with his hands in his pockets while Palestinians suffer the outrageous abuses of the Israeli government. To him, people labelled antisemites for opposing Israel's human rights abuses commit greater sins than 'settlers' and the IDF murdering Palestinians – and the odd Iranian scientist of course.
Ah, but you talk about one specific single individual only with a little reference to his spouse. Very different comment. That said, I know nothing about the Sir in question and his reasoning re. Israel and Palestine but you’re undoubtedly correct and accurate in your characterisation of the fine Sir.
The Labour Party continues its slide to the grave….
https://twitter.com/Socialist_Chris/status/1364205245270753280
the quote length you used along with your own commentary is how to do it
Thanks for reminding us of this seemingly innocuous piece of legislation Siobahn, and it is time well spent reading at least the UK Government Factsheet.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covert-human-intelligence-sources-draft-code-of-practice/covert-human-intelligence-sources-bill-factsheet-accessible-version
It's a bit of a worry that it is being marketed as merely '..making legal that which is already being done in order to keep us all safe from The Bad People'.
Participation in criminal conduct is an essential and inescapable feature of CHIS use, otherwise they will not be credible or gain the trust of those under investigation. This enables them to work their way into the heart of groups that would cause us harm, finding information and intelligence which other investigative measures may never detect.
The number of public authorities able to authorise this conduct has been restricted from those who can authorise the use and conduct of CHIS generally. Only the intelligence agencies, NCA, police, HMRC, HM Forces and ten other public authorities will be able to authorise criminal conduct.
No real surprise that so-called left wing/progressive parties are failing to adequately challenge this Bill. Trust in Governments generally has been declining for some time and it is clear from our own government's performance that keeping the Middle and the Business classes on side is of greater importance than properly and transformatively addressing the issues that often lead to "crime" and "disorder".
Is Sturmer a plant?
My first year at intermediate I used to run home for lunch nearly a block away every school day. It included a moderate hilly street in Wellington. It took me 5 minutes. I used to be a good middle distance runner. I do have a regret that I was over looked as I did not know what to do to see if I was good enough to run competitively.
Running to school has a dual purpose if you could be a competitive runner.
Didn't John Walker run everywhere as a kid? Miles to school, tennis practice etc. Kept him fit!
If so, it was the making of him when it came to being an Olympic gold medalist.
This is brilliantly funny (just waffly at first but sums up Boris towards the end).
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/23/boris-johnson-dog-dilyn-prime-minister-spad-no-10
This is brilliantly funny….
????
Marina Hyde is about as funny as mass murder.
https://www.medialens.org/2019/mirthless-laugh-the-persecution-and-torture-of-julian-assange/
Actually I agree with her views on that narcissist predator wiyh a messiah complex Assange. Having 'leftists' views, as I consider myself to have, does not mean one should automatically worship at the feet of someone like that loathsome person
"Loathsome" because he's a "narcissist predator wiyh a messiah complex" – intriguing opinion. Yet he's done some good too – "A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good. Each should have its own reward."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Assange#Honours_and_awards
Recently:
[2019] Julian Assange wins EU journalism award
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6065261/julian-assange-wins-eu-journalism-award/
[2019] On Saturday, Mr Shipton will accept the Gavin MacFadyen Award outside Belmarsh prison on behalf of his son.
The awarding body, which recognises and supports whistleblowers, describes Mr Assange as a “courageous truth teller”.
https://inews.co.uk/news/julian-assange-solitary-confinement-human-rights-gavin-macfayden-award-344528
[2020] Julian Assange, Australian investigative journalist, political activist and founder and spokesperson of WikiLeaks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart_Peace_Prize
True, after all Mussonini did make the trains run on time; Hitler solved Germanys inflation and unemployment problems; Mao did wonders for literacy by introducing Simplified Chinese.
Guess we could worship them as well for their very real achievements. Would not recommend it though.
Intriguing that the suggestion Assange is not all bad would cause you to reach for Musssonini [sic], Hitler and Mao…. any others spring to mind?
I'm sure you’d agree that we're each entitled to our opinions, but why my effort to counterbalance your demonisation of Assange caused you to go so far off the reservation is a mystery to me.
I guess one can agree to the notion that someone can do a little good despite being a major asshole.
And one can also agree that the little good that one did may not outweigh all the other times that one was a major asshole.
Guess one can Sabine – "good" and "arsehole" unquestionably apply to us all; where we might differ is in the use of "little" and "major".
For example, I would suggest that Hitler did little good and was a major arsehole, whereas neo-Nazis might argue Hitler was a major good and not that much of an arsehole at all.
I would suggest that Assange did a lot of good (for which he was both recognised and punished) and is a bit of an arsehole.
One thing we can agree on; Assange (like Hitler) polarises opinion.
ah, you see there also comes in personal preference to what is minor and or major. Some have a capacity to overlook a lot of manure in order to see the turd blossom, others will never see the turd blossom for all the crap they leave behind.
You're not wrong there Sabine, as the numerous awards that Assange has received attest. But I wouldn't worry too much – we can all rest easy as long as Assange remains locked up.
Yes, i know, people getting awards and such, what glory!
We have this guy here in NZ who is a Sir………..and an ass, his name is John Key. Again, as i said, one can be a ass and still get awards. And these awards may point to a good deed or two, but they say very little of character. And this is the last i have to say on that.
And yet that arse Sir John remains at large – no justice for some, eh?
What has that to do with being funny?
People who sneer at the suffering of the victims of the state ain't funny. They ain't got no rhythm, neither.
Sez yew.
You have made a fair point, Gabby. There are some apologists for state crimes who are funny at most times—but not when they're making light of state crimes. For example, David Letterman was funny and sharp most of the time—but not when he kept saying, in 2004, "Where do you think you are—Fal-LU-jah?" His asinine studio audience dutifully laughed, but I doubt many others did.
Sasha Baron Cohen can be funny too—but he wasn't when he labeled a Christian peace activist in the Occupied West Bank as an Islamic terrorist and thus put his life in danger. That wasn't funny, although a certain mentality thought it was.
Marina Hyde is simply not in the same league as either Letterman or Baron Cohen. She should stop trying to be funny, pronto.
Let’s see, you commented here @ 9:29 AM to inform us all that a certain Marina Hyde had offended your sense of funny.
@ 4:53 PM you have come a long way and conclude that said Marina Hyde is not funny and “simply not in the same league as either Letterman or Baron Cohen”.
Wow! You need a hobby; maybe join Alwyn who also seems bored.
Devolving into fake transcriptery is never a good development.
The transcript of that ugly, unfunny conversation is verbatim.
You just knew that it would come in handy one day and today, that day had come.
one transcribes for relaxation [nervous titter]
ha ha ha
Thanks for the social tip, Incognito.
MEMO ALWYN:
Feel free to drop round to Chez Breen one of these days.
I guess we all have different sense of humour. Or in the case of many self righteous left wingers, absolutely none.
What do you find so funny about the suffering of those targeted for destruction by the state?
"Only half of the “new” public housing places sourced by the Government in its bid to stem a burgeoning waitlist are additional, newly-built homes."
"The rest of the “places” will have been leased, bought in the private market, or sourced from councils and community providers and reclassified – a move called a “redirect”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/124306169/half-of-new-public-houses-not-actually-new-stock
So the inadequate response is even more inadequate than presented.
This is the sort of exposure that public housing needs. The same can be said with rent increases creating homelessness.
A public housing levy is required so more homes can be funded. Outrageous to some.
Start with a "ghost house " tax
Barfly you can't use the word tax, it scares the home investor.
Mmm "ghost house levy?"
Exactly! From now on, when referencing to property porn, use Capital Gains Sex or Wealth Sex. Sex sells, Tax does not, we all know that. A well-designed PR campaign should inform and advise first-home buyers AKA property virgins and aspiring investors AKA insells about the risks of unprotected property sex with scantily clad or even unpainted properties. For the more risky promiscuous or polygamous folk who like to play with multiple properties simultaneously, there will be gang banks and auction orgies.
I think I’d better stop here and cool off …
sex evasion
There is a lot in your comment, I am trying to unpack it.
"I am trying to unpack it".
Don't even think about. I suspect that incognito is simply a pseudonym for Pandora and we all know what opening Pandora's box entailed.
Leave it severely alone.
I tried to dress it up and didn’t want to open the kimono too much but it may need a robust Freudian analysis to get to the bare-naked truth. Don’t get too excited or you might be in for an anti-climactic experience.
Too late, Alwyn came with a pre-emptive stroke, what a downer
"what a downer".
Now you make me feel bad. I'm very sorry if I rained on your parade.
When you rain, you pour.
A public housing levy is required so more homes can be funded.
Outrageous to some.
The emergency/transitional housing rort needs to be investigated, too. MSD contracting with community groups stacked full of incompetent, officious, bullying monkeys, half of them with weet-bix packet so-called social work qualifications gifted to them from a bums-on-seats provincial polytech pretending to be a university. These clowns spend their days policing transitional housing complexes to see if residents are complying with more-than-over-officious restrictions which if there's less than a sniff of the problem the person or their family are out on the street, forced back again to apply to MSD for emergency housing to be thrown through the same fucked up process that they've just gone through and which nobody appears responsible for apart from the thugs contracted by MSD operating under the guise of transitional housing providers. This government stripped the skerrick of protection people had by removing emergency and transitional housing from the RTA. If people complain to MSD they say "don't talk to us, go see the transitional housing provider – they decide who stays and who goes". Next minute it's back at MSD applying for emergency accommodation which, in many parts of the country, there's none. So, where those people go who knows. Back to family in already over-priced overcrowded flats, houses and garages run by scum landlords people without homes are either reliant upon or escaping from. What a complete and utter fuck up this has become.
I looked up emergency housing the other day. After 7 days there is a charge of 25% of your income.
To pay 25% of your income you need to be on a benefit or recieve other income, have a bank account and to get a bank account you need Photo ID.
Documents are required to be attached to a benefit application. Work and Income will help with costs for documents and ID.
It is not an easy process to get emergency housing.
I did say a day or 2 ago that emergency housing needs to be for 28 days at a time. 7 days at a time is to disruptive.
Some homeless people could prefer a night shelter. The choice of one needs to be there until the right housing is available.
"It is not an easy process to get emergency housing."
And once you've got it it's not easy to keep it, even if you still need it.
I agree. You cannot have a draining and irritating system when people are already drained and are not feeling that great.
I forgot to mention that you need to get a quote for the cost of the emergency housing.
I also forgot to mention that nobody gives a fuck about this because everybody knows that if someone's homeless it's their own fault.
Your point of view is valid and you are not alone in what you say.
Labour need to rethink how they deliver emergency and public housing. Not some Bennett solution which is full of fish hooks.
Yes, and in this case I'd describe what you say are fish hooks as a total abrogation of responsibility by setting up a framework of responsibility that's either non-existent, invisible or run by incompetents. It's likely, in fact, to be all of those things because that's what happens when government shoves core responsibilities over to the community sector. There are tasks that should and are appropriately delivered by the community sector, but emergency and transitional housing as a response to the housing crisis isn't one of them. What it means is that these monkeys have control over whether someone has a roof over their heads and government is allowed to not care. So when one of these idiot providers decides they want to kick someone out they're in effect creating further homelessness from within a system designed to address homelessness. Don't expect this government to do anything about this, though. Just like previous governments, they have enough trouble understanding the problem.
From the desk of the Editorial Board of the Financial Times (20/04/20), presented without comment:
https://www.ft.com/content/bc7b919c-80a5-11ea-8fdb-7ec06edeef84
Populations in mainland Europe recovered fairly quickly – but for England it took over a century – setting the stage for a better relationship between the gentry and the workers than prevailed elsewhere.
Sounds like fun and games in Parliament this afternoon.
Simon Bridges and Paul Goldsmith storm out of Parliament after stoush with Speaker Trevor Mallard | Stuff.co.nz
Fair call.
The Speaker also said he believed Goldsmith turned away, strategically, so as not to be able to see the Speaker. I expect he made a correct observation and drew an accurate conclusion.
Ah, the old "if I can't see you, you can't hurt me" technique.
What's the smarmy little gobshite gone and said now.
I'm not sure what Mallard said, I think he took away a question or something.
Have the Green Party leadership requested the resignation of their MP Mr March yet?
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/written-questions/document/WQ_02607_2021/2607-2021-chris-bishop-to-the-minister-for-covid-19
Or should it be Marx, as in Groucho Marx? I thought that Gilmore was pretty bad but this guy is vastly worse in the "Look at me. Aren't I important" category. Gilmore was completely innocent in comparison with this fellow. Surely the Green Party is not going to put up with the behavior of Ricardo Menendez March for any longer?
Are you really asking the question or doing a Gerry Brownlee "just asking the question" type question. I suspect if they had asked for his resignation it likely would have been reported on. While we are asking questions "Have the National Party Leadership requested the resignation of their MP Bridges yet" From supporting Conversion Therapy of citizens to attacking the countries Top Cop with childish Far Right slurs to throwing his toys outta the cot in parliament, I'm not sure we've seen a bigger case of "Look at moi, Look at moi, Look at moi" for a long time (Kath and Kim reference, not Simons speech impediment reference, that would be too un-PC or un-woke)
He applied through the official channels, not via the backdoor, twice. He got declined, twice.
You seem bored.
He lied – twice.
It seems a bit suspicious to me that not one, but two places (him and the partner) just happened to open up in MIQ when many people have been trying to get a spot for a lot longer.
What are you implying?