Even when the National Party get dragged kicking and screaming into doing stuff for the public good the proposal ends up being under-cooked and needs to be expanded later for more cost.
The CRL has already been shown that the original plans, as agreed by the dear leader J Key, would hit capacity in 2035, just 10 years after it opened. Luckily we have such wonderful people in power now, with Goff and Tyford pushing for agreement at Council and Cabinet to increase the size now whilst still building to push the capacity up
They need to SLOW Auckland population growth especially as it is on the back of minimally and low waged workers immigrating here and the amount of consents for dirty trucks crossing through Auckland for decades.
Cheap workers are great for all the 1% multinational businesses making more profits, driving up commercial rents and housing, but how are the existing ratepayers (past down to renters) supposed to find the extra money on top of the petrol taxes, for the tourist highway to CBD and SkyCity stops for all these new people?
Likewise if we have half a million people coming into Auckland on $20 p/h and expected to pay $9 or even negative taxes, while pushing down wages, or satellite families for children/elderly, it’s putting more strain on the rest of the country to raise the taxes for all the roads, transport, hospitals, schools, super….
I’m not blaming the people coming, I’m just pointing out having more people to benefit the 1%, while the 60% of low waged workers are worse off, might not be a winning strategy. Nor spending billions in infrastructure so that there is another liquor store and takeaway and broken down truck venture delivering to them, or truck and trailer of fill or chickens going backwards and forwards for decades through Auckland, or more million dollars apartments for Singapore investors rented to Aucklander’s (using accomodation supplements from government), on the Auckland landscape.
None of these favoured NZ ventures is long term gain to the country, or going to grow productivity and create long term prosperity, quite the opposite, increasing inequality!
Perhaps time for council to rethink strategy towards higher waged, higher tax paying, more sustainable business (aka high tech or green tech) being the focus for growth in Auckland…
And with 4 degrees of warming – what are all those tens of thousands of people transported into the central city going to be doing?
Is it possible that we are now solving the problem that should have been solved immediately post-WWII? And while the craft beer drinkers and film festival attendees think it’s really marvellous, it’s got little to do with our actual future?
“It’s been happening to me too. Really concerning….”
Was this after this? Sanctuary said; “I was listening to Winston Peters this morning on Radio NZ being interviewed as acting PM, and I found myself nodding in agreement…”
There is a simple answer to the temporary condition that you are currently suffering from; it is that you are clearly hearing ‘common sense here’ from NZF Leader & Acting PM Peters.
So, y’know, apart from walking into someone’s dwelling, and also allowing for privacy/lack of disturbance (eg no right to traipse through someone’s garden), legislate that people can traverse land.
Other exceptions might be recognised visitor attractions that normally charge an entry fee and bumbling straight through a farmer’s crop (walk around the edge of such fields).
The interesting point about the Hunter Valley case, that nobody seems to be picking up on (or is willfully ignoring), is that there is access to that conservation land already, via marginal strip. That provides for walking access. But no, people are no longer satisfied with walking access, they want to be able to drive their SUVs wherever they please, because they think that is their right – hence pushing for an easement on the 40kms of gravel road.
The Cochrane family, who had the lease before Matt Lauer, actually had more restrictive access over Hunter Valley Station, so the change of ownership has been a good thing for public access. Of course, because Lauer is American, there is no mention of that.
Thanks for that info, Sam C, re the marginal strip access and the previous lease. I agree with your comments re people wanting more than walking access, eg SUVs etc – and also with B Waghorn’s wonderfully worded one “But having slack jawed morons wandering around farms is a recipe for disaster.”
I was interested in Peters’ views this morning on RNZ suggesting that the OIO did not do its work properly.
RNZ actually has a several separate articles up on their website this morning re the Hunter Valley situation and Matt Lauer. Here is the link to the one about Peters’ view on the OIO – which has links to the other two articles today and some previous ones in the Related Articles column on the right.
We can point out that the government hasn’t done their job properly in that they’ve opened NZ land up for sale to non-citizens. That should never have happened.
The Hunter Valley Road is the only viable access to the Hawea Conservation Park, which is part of the publicly owned conservation estate. Few people are prepared to walk up 40 km of gravel road through a sheep station so that they can get to public land. Winston was right to criticize the sale of crown land to Lauer without proper access to Hawea and the OIO’s decision but whether words will lead to action is questionable. Scandinavian countries have extensive ‘right to roam’ rules over private land (reference to Bill’s question above) that are centuries old and part of the culture there. Don’t think they would work in NZ, perhaps because we have a higher percentage of dickheads. One of the reasons for getting to remote places like Hawea is to get away from them!
There is plenty of publicly owned conservation estate all over NZ that few people are prepared to walk to. And long may that last. Keeps the dickheads out and allows those of us prepared to put the hard yards in to enjoy it, without half of Queenstown dropping their litter and shitting in the creek beds.
Not so straight forward the road is a shifting dirt track farm road.
With dangerous river crossings that can’t be walked.
Any one can get permission to use this road.
But not when farming safety and flooding.
It would be far quicker and safer to use a boat to get to the head of lake Hawea.
Only very experienced Bush trekkers can safely access the Hunter Valley conservation area.
Let’s not get carried away
You are right Sam but my understanding is that this is not true in all cases. Perhaps this is only true for all MS’s created after the 1987 Conservation Act?
Marginal strips have not been recognised on many Crown Pastoral Lease properties until they went through tenure review when they are identified and mapped.
I have know problem with easements to get people to beaches and national parks . And could live with it being forced if agreement can’t be reached .
But having slack jawed morons wandering around farms is a recipe for disaster .
When my stroke hit me in 2005 i was at a batch in Lake Waikaremoana with no internet or phone line available, I couldnt even lift a cup up and put it down but luckily I had some ‘asprin and Niacin’ to thin my blood and dialate my blood vessels and arteries respectively, and by me actually hitting myself for most of the night on niacin that caused a lot of ‘flushing’ (a hot pin pricking feeling) by moring I could walk again and had a good chance of partical recovery until by two days later when my doctor gave me a ‘chelation’ iv using (EDTA) to assist to partically unblock my clot that caused my sroke.
I tried the usual route here;
After spending five hours at the hostpital the day after the stroke all that netted me was only having a CT scan and no treatment for my stroke.
I was forced to go to my doctor three days after the incident for effective treatment.
So if you my friend or anyone does wind up like i did; – please look for immeadiate solutioins and not just wait to get some service at the Hospital days later; – as the literature said get treatment quickly, -and if stroke/high blood pressure prone please always carry some genuine asprin (acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (not disprin) and niacin (B3) with you always.
Only acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) thins the blood as vinegar does but the other painkillers do not if they dont contain acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as most are sythetically produced and are not from natural ingredients.
Facial drooping: A section of the face, usually only on one side, that is drooping and hard to move. This can be recognized by a crooked smile.
Arm weakness: The inability to raise one’s arm fully
Speech difficulties: An inability or difficulty to understand or produce speech
Time: If any of the symptoms above are showing, time is of the essence; call the emergency services or go to the hospital.
Tough situation – sounds like you did really well.
After my heart attack last year I’ve been wondering what the future holds as mum had an early heart attack and then 10 years later the strokes started – probably 6 over 9 years till the last one took her out.
I’m hoping the meds and exercise as well as reduced stress ☺ will help keep it all at bay at least until the kids are old enough to remember me.
This, mixed with the heavy influence of gospel music sung throughout Australian missionaries, formed a new wave of stories that told tales of dispossession, rebellion and heartache that faced black Australians. Aboriginal Country Music became its own style of music.
cg, I was a big fan of Dylan in the late 60s, and 70s. So I am very familiar with that album, and part of why I included him as an alt-country artist. And yes, Nashville Skyline mainstreams country in his songs.
Also includes Girl from the North Country, which was first included in an earlier album, freewheelin Dylan:
Re benefit sanctions and simon wanting to re introduce them. Spoke to someone who went to the WINZ last week, things have changed there she said. Poor woman ended up having a break down at the office due to stresses in her life. Her case worker listened, supported her, gave her advice and direction on how to get help and counseling. Case worker told her not to worry about looking for work for the next couple of weeks, because it is more important for her to get help for her stresses etc. Case worker then contacted her a couple of days later just to make sure she was ok.
Some people have difficulty looking for work because they are so messed up, due to other factors in their life, that’s what they need support and help for. Warmed my heart to hear this story. Sometimes people just need to know that someone cares and wants to help them, sometimes this is more important than anything else.
Taking things away (ie benefit sanctions) from someone who is already suffering helps no one. Not everyone is lazy, some people are simply messed up and need professional help.
Have WINZ staff been retrained under our new government? Or did the woman just get lucky with an understanding case manager?
Good to hear that Cinny. And I have had a similar experience with the WINZ Seniors staff over the last month or so. A marked difference in attitude and help provided.
In my experience in the last 8-10 or so years, there was a marked difference in approach between WINZ staff dealing with those under 65 and staff dealing with those on Super. (I did some ad hoc voluntary advocacy for people with mental health issues on benefits for some years; then had to give up work for health/disability reasons myself two years short of 65 and was a beneficiary once my savings ran out; and then transitioned onto Super.)
IMHO this differential declined somewhat over the last few years as they also drastically cut the number of Super staff available for face to face appointments (here in Wellington anyway) – meaning that you had to wait weeks for a face to face appointment and then the case manager was under so much pressure that the appointment would be rushed and superficial – and things would not get sorted properly.
About six weeks ago I was in one of those awful situations where a whole lot of things happened at once (broken appliances, a broken car, and me needing emergency dental surgery and other related dental treatment) and I was under massive physical and financial stress. I had a meltdown on the phone to WINZ Super staff. The (senior) person I was talking to was marvelous, talked me down etc and within days I had a $300 grant for some of the dental work plus loans for the rest and for fixing the car etc, and a personal case manager. The senior person has also been in contact with me several times and I have their direct contact details plus those of my case manager. Some outstanding matters (eg my and my doctors’ applications for disability allowance for the last few years) are now slowly getting sorted.
The attitude etc of the people I have dealt with recently has been so much better than in the past. I have asked them whether they have been receiving training etc – they were reticent in their responses but the difference is marked! I have also complimented them on it and strongly expressed hope that the empathy and help that I received is also being applied to beneficiaries under 65 years of age etc.
V.V, thanks for sharing, that was fascinating and encouraging. I’m really happy for you. Long may the ‘new attitude’ at WINZ continue and improve.
Someone caring and treating another with compassion and understanding goes a long long way. It’s heart warming to hear such stories, life changing, life saving even.
I was astounded and impressed buy Obrians nuanced take on sanctions ie one that punishes a woman for not naming the father is worse than other sanctions .
Even garner was calling national out for going been bashing to try and get some air time.
I agree with you Bewildered, however, one can take a look at the person as a whole, on a case by case basis, and offer some hope. Such actions would be more beneficial to all than treating someone as number on a sheet that gets a tick next to it if they get a job and worries about whatever else is going on for them.
No point helping someone get a job if they are a bit messed up, and as a result they end up failing in the job, unable to hold it down etc, which only leads to more feelings of misery by said person. Or more job interviews that don’t work out because they are ‘messed up’. Vicious unproductive circle in that approach. Better to help the person, then help them get a job.
That has happened here in Aus. My brother in NSW has 16 panels on his roof. He has had money back from the grid and no or very low bills. Others are complaining of $1200.00 bills for a quarter 13 weeks. So maybe Megan has a point. If you join NZ Greypower, you get their cheap rate, we pay about $60.00 a fortnight.
There is quite an arguement that the poor are subsidising the rich here in Aus, to the point it is a political football. Not sure apart from Nationalising, what can be done.
Always have been fights and blockades to new technologies, by vested interests.
Perhaps “The winter payment to cardholders” NZ is a plan to buffer this?
Great article – and fantastic photography from the wonderful Rob Suisted. I worked with Rob at DOC HQ in Wellington back in the second half of the 1990s when I went in as part of a team sorting things following the Cave Creek disaster. Rob was then National Marine Mammal Advisor and great at his job. It really was a toss up as to whether to encourage him to stay at DOC due to his skills and knowledge in that area – or to back him and his tremendous photographic skills in his dream to step into the unknown and become a self employed photographer. A really nice person to boot.
But I digress. Did you see this comment and link (re Waimea Dam Doomed?) a few days ago ?
This Stuff article yesterday was also encouraging re “A group of Marlborough students on a mission to save New Zealand’s marine life has impressed the Prime Minister with their passion. The year 12 and 13 Marlborough Girls’ College students wrote to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hoping to update marine legislation, and do away with some of the red tape that had held up similar projects. …”
Missed that Waimea damn dam one. Have been following it because as pickles noted Tasman, including GB will help pay for it!! Yeah nah ta – doomed is good. Already pretty poor vibes between Tasman council and a lot of GB ressies because of grandstand and a few other bits and bobs.
I think he should be boycotted- unacceptable 5 years ago and today. I’ll never watch him again (doesn’t mean much cos I never watched him hardly anyway).
He claimed that France winning the World cup was really a victory for Africa because the French team had a large number of players that were African in origin. This despite the fact that the majority of them were either born or brought up in France from an early age AND had learned to play Football in France. It is like claiming that the All Blacks winning the Rugby Union World cup is a victory for the Pacific Islands.
Because he thinks the fact that a French player of a particular ethnic background is somehow as much (if not more) African than French. That is racist thinking. Just as Richie McCaw’s success as a Rugby player was not attributed to Scotland or the rest of Europe so Kylian Mbappé abilities are not shared with Cameroon or the entire continent of Africa.
As it is a very short article here it is, but the actual link does include an interesting video of Matt, in his famous (or should that be infamous?) brown suit, buttonholing Maori King advisor Rangi Whakaruru at Auckland Airport some time ago.
“The office of the Māori King has been raided by Serious Fraud Office investigators probing claims of financial mismanagement.
The raid this morning at the King’s offices at the Endowed College Buildings in Ngāruawāhia follows a referral from the Charities Service who have spent the past year looking into claims of misspending at Ururangi Trust.
Ururangi is a registered charity intended to support the functions of King Tūheitia Paki, funded annually by Tainui to the tune of $2m. In 2015 it was the subject of an adverse Charities Service investigation and warned further issues could see its charitable status revoked.
Ururangi has been the subject of a long-running Herald investigation, canvassing lavish spending on luxury automobiles, international travel and a mysterious $46,000 invoice for stomach-stapling surgery paid by Tainui despite documentation being unclear as to who actually received the operation.”
When finding the Herald article related to the SFO raid of the Maori King’s office, I came across this Herald article also about a Police matter relating to Clarke Gayford …
Record highs in Japan and North America, wide spread fires in Sweden, Greece and the US, we’re fiddling while we burn.
This month’s scorching heat wave broke records around the world. The Algerian city of Ouargla, with a population of half a million, had a temperature of 124.3 degrees Fahrenheit on July 6, the hottest reliably measured temperature on record in Africa. In Ireland and Wales, the unusually hot weather revealed ancient structures normally hidden by grass or crops. In Chino, California, the mercury soared to 120 degrees. Another round of hazardous summer heat is expected this week, with record high temperatures possible in the southern United States.
This is a very informative and in depth piece from Cenk Uygur. Around the firing of the director of The Guardians Of The Galaxy III. 20 minutes, goes into how the alt-right trolls work and how they do things.
channel 31.
today nationals getting more and more frantic.
nikki kaye getting ruder and ruder as she repeats coalition members names over and over.
this is just horrible behaviour and right now chris penk is using words that are too big for him. he is banausic , his jokes are not funny and his allusions are pissweak with absolutley no substance whatsoever.
what baffles me is where do the nationals party get these namby pamby little twerps from.
they all look and sound like they have come out of the same weetbix packet and their underpants are too tight.
new zeland deserves beter than this.
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!
1:24 PM – Jul 23, 2018
310K
222K people are talking about this
Consequences the like of which few throughout history have ever suffered?
Good morning The AM Show it good to see the government attack the correct corruption the big money laundering organisation.
It would be Nice to see them go after the business fraud that’s billions. of dollars of missed revenue for our society. The last government were just common tangata basher and they had another boot this week.
Condolences to the whano of the tangata in Greece who have died it a tragedy that I have to capitalise on. We are axcerarating the destruction of Papatuanukue we are turning the Paradise that the GOD’S have gifted us into a place of Hell.
And why is this still happening well its the Greedy rich who want to control ALL the tangata of Papatuanukue they don’t care if the consequences of there action turns Papatuanukue into Hell.
Duncan you know how it is you get information on a subject and you change your opinion Winston has changed his mind on the tabbaco subject I’m not going to give my opinion on the subject. If there is a direct connection between the price of smokes and the sharp increase in burglarys you can not deny that fact.
Sir Avery is doing a good thing a product that can save the most vulnerable of Papatuanukue society.
Ka kite ano
Good evening Newshub some people think its safer to sleep on the streets than in a building the cold and damp unsafe environment will stuff up ones lungs and cause respiratory problems there are many problems that the tangata on the streets face the od night in a cold damp environment won’t cause to much harm to ones health but sleeping every night in these condition’s is shortening there lives and this is a crime in my eyes so please help the innocent vulnerable tangata all around Aotearoa Get a good safe place to sleep OUR society has place them in this predicament . I know I can be a bit defensive but I think its understandable coming from Eco Maori.
The yacht tragedy show’s Eco Maori that the rules are different when you come from a elite New Zealand family hypocrisy plutocracy is what comes to mind you know what would have happened if they were brown broke tangata te pukapuka would have thrown them straight into the hinaki .
Ka kite ano
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 ...
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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: ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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 ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
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 ...
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 ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
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 ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
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 ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
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 ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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 ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes.Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...
By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker.Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...
The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...
A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...
If something big is going to happen in Ferndale, it’s going to happen at Christmas. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year, it’s the annual Christmas cliffhanger. The final episode of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...
Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...
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Even when the National Party get dragged kicking and screaming into doing stuff for the public good the proposal ends up being under-cooked and needs to be expanded later for more cost.
The CRL has already been shown that the original plans, as agreed by the dear leader J Key, would hit capacity in 2035, just 10 years after it opened. Luckily we have such wonderful people in power now, with Goff and Tyford pushing for agreement at Council and Cabinet to increase the size now whilst still building to push the capacity up
They need to SLOW Auckland population growth especially as it is on the back of minimally and low waged workers immigrating here and the amount of consents for dirty trucks crossing through Auckland for decades.
Cheap workers are great for all the 1% multinational businesses making more profits, driving up commercial rents and housing, but how are the existing ratepayers (past down to renters) supposed to find the extra money on top of the petrol taxes, for the tourist highway to CBD and SkyCity stops for all these new people?
Likewise if we have half a million people coming into Auckland on $20 p/h and expected to pay $9 or even negative taxes, while pushing down wages, or satellite families for children/elderly, it’s putting more strain on the rest of the country to raise the taxes for all the roads, transport, hospitals, schools, super….
I’m not blaming the people coming, I’m just pointing out having more people to benefit the 1%, while the 60% of low waged workers are worse off, might not be a winning strategy. Nor spending billions in infrastructure so that there is another liquor store and takeaway and broken down truck venture delivering to them, or truck and trailer of fill or chickens going backwards and forwards for decades through Auckland, or more million dollars apartments for Singapore investors rented to Aucklander’s (using accomodation supplements from government), on the Auckland landscape.
None of these favoured NZ ventures is long term gain to the country, or going to grow productivity and create long term prosperity, quite the opposite, increasing inequality!
Perhaps time for council to rethink strategy towards higher waged, higher tax paying, more sustainable business (aka high tech or green tech) being the focus for growth in Auckland…
And with 4 degrees of warming – what are all those tens of thousands of people transported into the central city going to be doing?
Is it possible that we are now solving the problem that should have been solved immediately post-WWII? And while the craft beer drinkers and film festival attendees think it’s really marvellous, it’s got little to do with our actual future?
I was listening to Winston Peters this morning on Radio NZ being interviewed as acting PM, and I found myself nodding in agreement…
I need a lie down and a warm flannel on my forehead.
“I was listening to Winston Peters this morning on Radio NZ….”
I’m assuming you’re referring to this….
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018654916/winston-peters-slams-tobacco-tax
…not this? https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/birds-on-morning-report/audio/2586406/japanese-snipe
🙂
It’s been happening to me too. Really concerning….
Anne at 2.2 said
“It’s been happening to me too. Really concerning….”
Was this after this? Sanctuary said; “I was listening to Winston Peters this morning on Radio NZ being interviewed as acting PM, and I found myself nodding in agreement…”
There is a simple answer to the temporary condition that you are currently suffering from; it is that you are clearly hearing ‘common sense here’ from NZF Leader & Acting PM Peters.
My comment was in answer to Sanctuary and is also tongue in cheek. Unfortunately there is no emoticon for t in c.
And yes common sense prevails. It has prevailed since October of last year.
Hehehehehehe funny 🙂 Will have to have a listen, cheers for the link.
Why doesn’t NZ simply pass a “right to roam” act?
So, y’know, apart from walking into someone’s dwelling, and also allowing for privacy/lack of disturbance (eg no right to traipse through someone’s garden), legislate that people can traverse land.
Other exceptions might be recognised visitor attractions that normally charge an entry fee and bumbling straight through a farmer’s crop (walk around the edge of such fields).
The interesting point about the Hunter Valley case, that nobody seems to be picking up on (or is willfully ignoring), is that there is access to that conservation land already, via marginal strip. That provides for walking access. But no, people are no longer satisfied with walking access, they want to be able to drive their SUVs wherever they please, because they think that is their right – hence pushing for an easement on the 40kms of gravel road.
The Cochrane family, who had the lease before Matt Lauer, actually had more restrictive access over Hunter Valley Station, so the change of ownership has been a good thing for public access. Of course, because Lauer is American, there is no mention of that.
Thanks for that info, Sam C, re the marginal strip access and the previous lease. I agree with your comments re people wanting more than walking access, eg SUVs etc – and also with B Waghorn’s wonderfully worded one “But having slack jawed morons wandering around farms is a recipe for disaster.”
I was interested in Peters’ views this morning on RNZ suggesting that the OIO did not do its work properly.
RNZ actually has a several separate articles up on their website this morning re the Hunter Valley situation and Matt Lauer. Here is the link to the one about Peters’ view on the OIO – which has links to the other two articles today and some previous ones in the Related Articles column on the right.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/362479/winston-peters-overseas-investment-office-didn-t-do-its-job-over-matt-lauer-sale
We can point out that the government hasn’t done their job properly in that they’ve opened NZ land up for sale to non-citizens. That should never have happened.
The Hunter Valley Road is the only viable access to the Hawea Conservation Park, which is part of the publicly owned conservation estate. Few people are prepared to walk up 40 km of gravel road through a sheep station so that they can get to public land. Winston was right to criticize the sale of crown land to Lauer without proper access to Hawea and the OIO’s decision but whether words will lead to action is questionable. Scandinavian countries have extensive ‘right to roam’ rules over private land (reference to Bill’s question above) that are centuries old and part of the culture there. Don’t think they would work in NZ, perhaps because we have a higher percentage of dickheads. One of the reasons for getting to remote places like Hawea is to get away from them!
There is plenty of publicly owned conservation estate all over NZ that few people are prepared to walk to. And long may that last. Keeps the dickheads out and allows those of us prepared to put the hard yards in to enjoy it, without half of Queenstown dropping their litter and shitting in the creek beds.
Very public spirited Sam.
Not so straight forward the road is a shifting dirt track farm road.
With dangerous river crossings that can’t be walked.
Any one can get permission to use this road.
But not when farming safety and flooding.
It would be far quicker and safer to use a boat to get to the head of lake Hawea.
Only very experienced Bush trekkers can safely access the Hunter Valley conservation area.
Let’s not get carried away
its a bit more complicated than that because the river moves in its bed but the marginal strip doesnt so access not guaranteed
No. Do your homework. Marginal strips (1987 Conservation Act) move with the waterway. s58 (Land Act 1948) strips are immovable.
So many clowns (clearly who don’t understand the backcountry of NZ) putting their ignorant views forward.
You are right Sam but my understanding is that this is not true in all cases. Perhaps this is only true for all MS’s created after the 1987 Conservation Act?
Marginal strips have not been recognised on many Crown Pastoral Lease properties until they went through tenure review when they are identified and mapped.
I have know problem with easements to get people to beaches and national parks . And could live with it being forced if agreement can’t be reached .
But having slack jawed morons wandering around farms is a recipe for disaster .
Might raise some Treaty issues if not done deftly.
It would also have to account for things like movement restrictions because of Kauri dieback and suchlike.
But it’s an interesting concept to roll around in my brain, nothing too untoward about it at all.
1000%
Thanks Sanctuary for the giggle you gave me this morning; – well said sport.
You said;
“Listening to Winston this morning; – I found myself nodding in agreement…
I need a lie down and a warm flannel on my forehead.”
Have a good restful snooze afterwards.
Good health news, hopefully going back to prevention approach with doctors, more innovation and early intervention to get better outcomes!
Stroke patients getting new lease on life with ‘miraculous’ procedure
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/105509120/stroke-patients-getting-new-lease-on-life-with-miraculous-procedure
Thanks SaveNZ.
When my stroke hit me in 2005 i was at a batch in Lake Waikaremoana with no internet or phone line available, I couldnt even lift a cup up and put it down but luckily I had some ‘asprin and Niacin’ to thin my blood and dialate my blood vessels and arteries respectively, and by me actually hitting myself for most of the night on niacin that caused a lot of ‘flushing’ (a hot pin pricking feeling) by moring I could walk again and had a good chance of partical recovery until by two days later when my doctor gave me a ‘chelation’ iv using (EDTA) to assist to partically unblock my clot that caused my sroke.
I tried the usual route here;
After spending five hours at the hostpital the day after the stroke all that netted me was only having a CT scan and no treatment for my stroke.
I was forced to go to my doctor three days after the incident for effective treatment.
So if you my friend or anyone does wind up like i did; – please look for immeadiate solutioins and not just wait to get some service at the Hospital days later; – as the literature said get treatment quickly, -and if stroke/high blood pressure prone please always carry some genuine asprin (acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (not disprin) and niacin (B3) with you always.
Only acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) thins the blood as vinegar does but the other painkillers do not if they dont contain acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as most are sythetically produced and are not from natural ingredients.
zouch, remote and no means of contact? These things can turn up at the worst moments, eh.
The aspirin and niacin was a cunning plan.
But anyone in reach of a phone – ambulance time.
FAST:
Tough situation – sounds like you did really well.
After my heart attack last year I’ve been wondering what the future holds as mum had an early heart attack and then 10 years later the strokes started – probably 6 over 9 years till the last one took her out.
I’m hoping the meds and exercise as well as reduced stress ☺ will help keep it all at bay at least until the kids are old enough to remember me.
Watch your salt intake… a big contributor.
On Sunday evening I watched Teina Pora’s story. Was transfixed. A great production which hugely contrasts with American versions of similar stories.
And our good friend Simon Bridges is opposed to a criminal Review system.
A write up of the program:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12092509
Interesting long read, with music. I love the banjo – just something about the cool sound it makes just hits me deep.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/23/white-people-are-so-fragile-bless-em-rhiannon-giddens-banjo-warrior-cambridge-folk-festival
Ah. I also read that with interest this morning, marty.
I like quite a bit of country music – it has roots also in Irish and Scottish working class/people’s music – ofte music of resistance.
It was a revelation to learn that the banjo comes from Africa, plus the one-string fiddle.
I like mostly some alt country music: Johnny Cash, Steve Earle, Brandi Carlile, some of Dylan, etc.
Rhiannon Giddens is now someone I will look out for on youtube.
Yeah she is one to watch.
I don’t mind a bit of country – prob lean towards old school country with a bit of spoons now and then 😊
https://youtu.be/_nLmM9kcBKs
And
https://youtu.be/e4Ao-iNPPUc
Spoons – yeah, cool. Cheap accessible instrument. The history apparently goes back to at least the Egyptians, Greeeks and Romans, but has been used around the world since about when spoons were invented.
And when I lived in Aussie, I learned country had become a significant part of Aussie indigenous culture: Heard a lot in rural Aussie in 1920s:
Interesting thanks.
Spoons were essential instruments in the deep South where I grew up.
Spoons?
Saws; that’s where it’s at!
Looks a bit aucklandy mate ☺
Skillful though.
Saws?
Rubber chooks ftw
Carolyn, – try Dylans old album fromm1969 “Nashville skyline”
I got hooked on his entry into the ‘blueridge mountain’ bluegrass music then while I was there.
cg, I was a big fan of Dylan in the late 60s, and 70s. So I am very familiar with that album, and part of why I included him as an alt-country artist. And yes, Nashville Skyline mainstreams country in his songs.
Also includes Girl from the North Country, which was first included in an earlier album, freewheelin Dylan:
Tova slammed simon bridges this morning, saying his road show was a complete waste of time. He had a six week opportunity and he blew it.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/political-wrap-benefits-iran-and-haumaha.html
Re benefit sanctions and simon wanting to re introduce them. Spoke to someone who went to the WINZ last week, things have changed there she said. Poor woman ended up having a break down at the office due to stresses in her life. Her case worker listened, supported her, gave her advice and direction on how to get help and counseling. Case worker told her not to worry about looking for work for the next couple of weeks, because it is more important for her to get help for her stresses etc. Case worker then contacted her a couple of days later just to make sure she was ok.
Some people have difficulty looking for work because they are so messed up, due to other factors in their life, that’s what they need support and help for. Warmed my heart to hear this story. Sometimes people just need to know that someone cares and wants to help them, sometimes this is more important than anything else.
Taking things away (ie benefit sanctions) from someone who is already suffering helps no one. Not everyone is lazy, some people are simply messed up and need professional help.
Have WINZ staff been retrained under our new government? Or did the woman just get lucky with an understanding case manager?
Good to hear that Cinny. And I have had a similar experience with the WINZ Seniors staff over the last month or so. A marked difference in attitude and help provided.
In my experience in the last 8-10 or so years, there was a marked difference in approach between WINZ staff dealing with those under 65 and staff dealing with those on Super. (I did some ad hoc voluntary advocacy for people with mental health issues on benefits for some years; then had to give up work for health/disability reasons myself two years short of 65 and was a beneficiary once my savings ran out; and then transitioned onto Super.)
IMHO this differential declined somewhat over the last few years as they also drastically cut the number of Super staff available for face to face appointments (here in Wellington anyway) – meaning that you had to wait weeks for a face to face appointment and then the case manager was under so much pressure that the appointment would be rushed and superficial – and things would not get sorted properly.
About six weeks ago I was in one of those awful situations where a whole lot of things happened at once (broken appliances, a broken car, and me needing emergency dental surgery and other related dental treatment) and I was under massive physical and financial stress. I had a meltdown on the phone to WINZ Super staff. The (senior) person I was talking to was marvelous, talked me down etc and within days I had a $300 grant for some of the dental work plus loans for the rest and for fixing the car etc, and a personal case manager. The senior person has also been in contact with me several times and I have their direct contact details plus those of my case manager. Some outstanding matters (eg my and my doctors’ applications for disability allowance for the last few years) are now slowly getting sorted.
The attitude etc of the people I have dealt with recently has been so much better than in the past. I have asked them whether they have been receiving training etc – they were reticent in their responses but the difference is marked! I have also complimented them on it and strongly expressed hope that the empathy and help that I received is also being applied to beneficiaries under 65 years of age etc.
V.V, thanks for sharing, that was fascinating and encouraging. I’m really happy for you. Long may the ‘new attitude’ at WINZ continue and improve.
Someone caring and treating another with compassion and understanding goes a long long way. It’s heart warming to hear such stories, life changing, life saving even.
I had the exact opposite last month but that came with a change in person from whom I used to see.
This is a most fascinating post and without time to read the thread I randomly jumped to it.
What area is that in if you don’t mind me asking?
Hey there A.W.W, the lady I spoke with went to the Motueka office.
Cheers
I was astounded and impressed buy Obrians nuanced take on sanctions ie one that punishes a woman for not naming the father is worse than other sanctions .
Even garner was calling national out for going been bashing to try and get some air time.
My brother always said he could tell what govt was in power simply by the reception he got at WINZ.
Spot on, bro!
Nice story Cinny but you can’t run policy on nice feelings and individual anecdotes, policy needs to be on collective good, rationality and evidence
I agree with you Bewildered, however, one can take a look at the person as a whole, on a case by case basis, and offer some hope. Such actions would be more beneficial to all than treating someone as number on a sheet that gets a tick next to it if they get a job and worries about whatever else is going on for them.
No point helping someone get a job if they are a bit messed up, and as a result they end up failing in the job, unable to hold it down etc, which only leads to more feelings of misery by said person. Or more job interviews that don’t work out because they are ‘messed up’. Vicious unproductive circle in that approach. Better to help the person, then help them get a job.
Surely there would be studies on such.
On the topic of “One in two go without heating due to cost”, survey finds no mention of this….
Way to be cleared for big electricity players to prey on low-income households
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/102708888/way-to-be-cleared-for-big-electricity-players-to-prey-on-lowincome-households
That has happened here in Aus. My brother in NSW has 16 panels on his roof. He has had money back from the grid and no or very low bills. Others are complaining of $1200.00 bills for a quarter 13 weeks. So maybe Megan has a point. If you join NZ Greypower, you get their cheap rate, we pay about $60.00 a fortnight.
There is quite an arguement that the poor are subsidising the rich here in Aus, to the point it is a political football. Not sure apart from Nationalising, what can be done.
Always have been fights and blockades to new technologies, by vested interests.
Perhaps “The winter payment to cardholders” NZ is a plan to buffer this?
The silting of scallop beds in Mohua Golden Bay.
Good article
https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/what-we-do-in-the-shallows/
The effects of our poor and commodification style land and sea practices will haunt us for generations.
Great piece Marty – thanks for that.
Also my thanks for the link, marty.
Great article – and fantastic photography from the wonderful Rob Suisted. I worked with Rob at DOC HQ in Wellington back in the second half of the 1990s when I went in as part of a team sorting things following the Cave Creek disaster. Rob was then National Marine Mammal Advisor and great at his job. It really was a toss up as to whether to encourage him to stay at DOC due to his skills and knowledge in that area – or to back him and his tremendous photographic skills in his dream to step into the unknown and become a self employed photographer. A really nice person to boot.
But I digress. Did you see this comment and link (re Waimea Dam Doomed?) a few days ago ?
https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-19-07-2018/#comment-1504869
This Stuff article yesterday was also encouraging re “A group of Marlborough students on a mission to save New Zealand’s marine life has impressed the Prime Minister with their passion. The year 12 and 13 Marlborough Girls’ College students wrote to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hoping to update marine legislation, and do away with some of the red tape that had held up similar projects. …”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/105616357/impressed-pm-jacinda-ardern-thanks-students-for-fantastic-work
Missed that Waimea damn dam one. Have been following it because as pickles noted Tasman, including GB will help pay for it!! Yeah nah ta – doomed is good. Already pretty poor vibes between Tasman council and a lot of GB ressies because of grandstand and a few other bits and bobs.
I think he should be boycotted- unacceptable 5 years ago and today. I’ll never watch him again (doesn’t mean much cos I never watched him hardly anyway).
https://i.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/105702598/calls-for-boycott-as-racist-trevor-noah-clip-resurfaces
His comments about Africa winning the World cup via France was equally racist.
Can you elaborate?
He claimed that France winning the World cup was really a victory for Africa because the French team had a large number of players that were African in origin. This despite the fact that the majority of them were either born or brought up in France from an early age AND had learned to play Football in France. It is like claiming that the All Blacks winning the Rugby Union World cup is a victory for the Pacific Islands.
I’m not trying to be awkward but why do you think that is racist?
Is it the disregarding France bit, the ‘we can’t tell them apart’ bit or something else?
Because he thinks the fact that a French player of a particular ethnic background is somehow as much (if not more) African than French. That is racist thinking. Just as Richie McCaw’s success as a Rugby player was not attributed to Scotland or the rest of Europe so Kylian Mbappé abilities are not shared with Cameroon or the entire continent of Africa.
Thanks.
French ambassador to the US gave Noah a serve.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiargMdVAAAGraN.jpg
“… This, even in jest, legitimizes the ideology which claims whiteness as the only definition of being French”
Excellent point.
I wonder if a Tahitian Independence advocate considers themselves French.
Or under the benevolent thumb of French cultural dominance and economic oppression.
Funny the Tahitian youth almost beat us on Youth Suicide, but on this we will not be beaten!
(note – read this above with dripping sarcasm, otherwise it will sound odd)
Bugger, that’s really disappointing.
The wonderful Laura Flanders – Video time 27 minutes.
Jeremy Corbyn: Transformative Economics Through Political Organizing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-uAdOrFv48&ab_channel=TheLauraFlandersShow
Makes you realise how right wing the NZ labour party are, not just economically.
Be interesting to see what this Serious Fraud Office raid on the office of the Maori King brings up.
Why?
Agreed. It is going to be interesting. Linky http://mobile.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.php?c_id=1&objectid=12094378
Comments like this are so frustrating, Ad! Where is your link or links?????
Of course I had to drop everything and google. Right, I had forgotten about Matt Nippert’s latest ongoing ‘dog with a bone’.
Here is a link for others to the latest – https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12094378
As it is a very short article here it is, but the actual link does include an interesting video of Matt, in his famous (or should that be infamous?) brown suit, buttonholing Maori King advisor Rangi Whakaruru at Auckland Airport some time ago.
“The office of the Māori King has been raided by Serious Fraud Office investigators probing claims of financial mismanagement.
The raid this morning at the King’s offices at the Endowed College Buildings in Ngāruawāhia follows a referral from the Charities Service who have spent the past year looking into claims of misspending at Ururangi Trust.
Ururangi is a registered charity intended to support the functions of King Tūheitia Paki, funded annually by Tainui to the tune of $2m. In 2015 it was the subject of an adverse Charities Service investigation and warned further issues could see its charitable status revoked.
Ururangi has been the subject of a long-running Herald investigation, canvassing lavish spending on luxury automobiles, international travel and a mysterious $46,000 invoice for stomach-stapling surgery paid by Tainui despite documentation being unclear as to who actually received the operation.”
EDIT – SNAP JohnnyB but will leave as is.
When finding the Herald article related to the SFO raid of the Maori King’s office, I came across this Herald article also about a Police matter relating to Clarke Gayford …
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12093673
Record highs in Japan and North America, wide spread fires in Sweden, Greece and the US, we’re fiddling while we burn.
This month’s scorching heat wave broke records around the world. The Algerian city of Ouargla, with a population of half a million, had a temperature of 124.3 degrees Fahrenheit on July 6, the hottest reliably measured temperature on record in Africa. In Ireland and Wales, the unusually hot weather revealed ancient structures normally hidden by grass or crops. In Chino, California, the mercury soared to 120 degrees. Another round of hazardous summer heat is expected this week, with record high temperatures possible in the southern United States.
https://thebulletin.org/2018/07/global-heat-wave-an-epic-tv-news-fail/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/sweden-faces-extreme-fire-risk-coming-days-142738368.html
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/07/23/4-day-heat-wave-southern-california/
“we’re fiddling while we burn”
It’s all the fault of the scientists
I mean how are we meant to trust them when the reckons were that we had more time?
/sarc (of course)
This is a very informative and in depth piece from Cenk Uygur. Around the firing of the director of The Guardians Of The Galaxy III. 20 minutes, goes into how the alt-right trolls work and how they do things.
More on CV’s favourite alt filth.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mike-cernovich-james-gunn-fired_us_5b5265cce4b0fd5c73c570ac?o0s
CV…on a long term ban…can’t defend himself…
That’s who you’re taking a stab at?
channel 31.
today nationals getting more and more frantic.
nikki kaye getting ruder and ruder as she repeats coalition members names over and over.
this is just horrible behaviour and right now chris penk is using words that are too big for him. he is banausic , his jokes are not funny and his allusions are pissweak with absolutley no substance whatsoever.
what baffles me is where do the nationals party get these namby pamby little twerps from.
they all look and sound like they have come out of the same weetbix packet and their underpants are too tight.
new zeland deserves beter than this.
NZ, does not deserve better…
NZ, is getting exactly what it is allowing to happen…
Can genocide ever be justified?
Consequences the like of which few throughout history have ever suffered?
What does this mean?
Throughout history?
Worse than Dresden? Worse than Warsaw? Worse than Hiroshima?
Are these the sort of historical examples that Donald Trump is threatening to visit on the Iranian people?
How long will the world have to put up with this savage?
Good morning The AM Show it good to see the government attack the correct corruption the big money laundering organisation.
It would be Nice to see them go after the business fraud that’s billions. of dollars of missed revenue for our society. The last government were just common tangata basher and they had another boot this week.
Condolences to the whano of the tangata in Greece who have died it a tragedy that I have to capitalise on. We are axcerarating the destruction of Papatuanukue we are turning the Paradise that the GOD’S have gifted us into a place of Hell.
And why is this still happening well its the Greedy rich who want to control ALL the tangata of Papatuanukue they don’t care if the consequences of there action turns Papatuanukue into Hell.
Duncan you know how it is you get information on a subject and you change your opinion Winston has changed his mind on the tabbaco subject I’m not going to give my opinion on the subject. If there is a direct connection between the price of smokes and the sharp increase in burglarys you can not deny that fact.
Sir Avery is doing a good thing a product that can save the most vulnerable of Papatuanukue society.
Ka kite ano
I don’t trust the Owner of the Newsroom website I still have questions for him to answers. Ana to kai Ka kite ano
Good evening Newshub some people think its safer to sleep on the streets than in a building the cold and damp unsafe environment will stuff up ones lungs and cause respiratory problems there are many problems that the tangata on the streets face the od night in a cold damp environment won’t cause to much harm to ones health but sleeping every night in these condition’s is shortening there lives and this is a crime in my eyes so please help the innocent vulnerable tangata all around Aotearoa Get a good safe place to sleep OUR society has place them in this predicament . I know I can be a bit defensive but I think its understandable coming from Eco Maori.
The yacht tragedy show’s Eco Maori that the rules are different when you come from a elite New Zealand family hypocrisy plutocracy is what comes to mind you know what would have happened if they were brown broke tangata te pukapuka would have thrown them straight into the hinaki .
Ka kite ano