Apparently Australia's Great Barrier Reef is no longer endangered, and will no longer be listed as such, because Australia's Environment Minister Sussan Leys has done a standup job convincing UNESCO that there are alternative facts:
It is the second time the Great Barrier Reef has been spared inclusion on the "in danger" list.
In 2015, lobbying by then-environment minister Greg Hunt escaped a push to have the reef added to the list.
After that, the reef was hit with an unprecedented three mass bleaching events in five years, driven by climate change and water quality targets that were not met.
Make it endangered and everyone will rush to see it before it vanishes – very good for tourism, and then they can break off bits of bleached coral for souveniers. (Santa I would like spellcheck and pop-up correction like I get on google email)!
"One of the things I find fascinating about the deepening twilight of industrial society is how rigid our modern notions of technology have become. Most people these days, asked to imagine a society with technology about as advanced as ours, present something all but identical to what we’ve got now; asked to imagine a society with less advanced technology, they spring to a distorted pop-culture version of early medieval Europe if they don’t leap straight to even more distorted pop-culture notions about the Stone Age; asked to imagine a society with technology more advanced than ours, you can bet dollars for dilithium crystals that they’ll rehash the same tired imagery from early twentieth century sci-fi that has been stuck sideways in our collective imagination for decades now."
I recall from my schools days projects on 'the Dark Age' a term now apparently avoided that described the roughly thousand year period after the collapse of the (western ) Roman Empire and the subsequent loss of knowledge and practices…..rinse and repeat?
I remember reading that certain tribes? in Britain asked if the Romans would come back, their organisation was good, and their infrastructure and they largely left the people to live within their own culture. But the Romans had trouble at home.
Yes there were undoubtably areas of 'light' if you like but fragmentation , disorganisation and I suspect a loss of common thought/education didnt make for an easy time….and importantly much that had been before was lost, good and bad.
The point I think Greer makes is that progress dosnt cease, it changes….and we need to remember we dont know what we dont know….even events a few centuries ago are largely a mystery to us …hell, even events a few decades ago are in constant dispute.
I don't have a lot of 'technology' in my house or life. I have a computer, a landline, and that is pretty much it. We have actually not invented anything much, we are upgrading 'systems' but that is about it. And i guess this is where the difference between the medieval times and our times are. The best we can do atm is change the look of a gadget or the system. Heck even the
Ev are not new technology considering that the 1920 had them already.
but with that lack of technology also come skills.
If you only cook ready made meals can you cook from scratch? if you only use your microwave can you cook on a coal range or a sun oven? if all your clothes come from a shop can you still sew and fix a garment?
these are all skills, same as with wood work, building, fishing, hunting, planting etc. How many of us still have these skills?
So yes, we now have a world were many have lots of gadgets but can't boil water without burning down the house. (my sister 🙂 )
Dont disagree with that…though would note some skills easier to learn than others AND many time constrained…..its best not to have to learn how to grow food say when the supermarkets are empty and theres a drought.
Interesting….dont think there was much lack of writing through that period though it may be fair to observe that much of what survived was curated by the Church which would sit with Petrarch who appeared to bemoaning the quality rather than the quantity of writings.
If we we drop the contested term 'Dark Ages' what do we know of the period following the collapse of the Western Roman Empiore?
[Content deleted because it contained too many links that triggered Auto-Moderation]
That's a bit of a retcon of what Petrarch actually said when he coined the expression: "Amidst the errors there shone forth men of genius; no less keen were their eyes, although they were surrounded by darkness and dense gloom"
] The Annales covered the first twelve centuries of Christianity to 1198, and was published in twelve volumes between 1588 and 1607. It was in Volume X that Baronius coined the term "dark age" for the period between the end of the Carolingian Empire in 888[24] and the first stirrings of Gregorian Reform under Pope Clement II in 1046:
"The new age (saeculum) that was beginning, for its harshness and barrenness of good could well be called iron, for its baseness and abounding evil leaden, and moreover for its lack of writers (inopia scriptorum) dark (obscurum)".[26]
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Dec. 17, 2000 — The beginning of the Dark Ages may have been literal, as well as figurative, as the result of a massive volcanic eruption in the 6th century, according to a volcanologist at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The ices of Greenland and Antarctica bear the fingerprints of a monster: a gigantic volcanic eruption in 539 or 540 A.D. that killed tens of thousands and helped trigger one of the worst periods of global cooling in the last 2,000 years. Now, after years of searching, a team of scientists has finally tracked down the source of the eruption.
Exactly, pat. So, who for example is advocating 'bringing back the Brits"?
They are the ones who would prefer benevolent despotism aka royalty, the ones who despise indigenous culture and language, who want tourism at the risk of our health, who want trade at the risk of covid deaths, who want their overseas trips and so flaunt their wealth at the risk of their community.
For they are the one percenters, and their sycophants, the untitled aristocracy, the ICE car importers, the exporters of swamp kauri, the manufacturers of coal-dried milk powder, the tainters of water, sellers of our land to foreigners, enablers of overseas bolt holers.
It is our thinking and how we think about and set up these hierarchical structures and institutions, held together by the ‘laws of the land’ as well as moral ‘laws’. In other words, it is a human construct.
How these institutions are set up are a function of scale I'd suggest….that which can work perfectly adequately locally may not at say a national level.
It is easier to consider impacts and needs when dealing with small groups and where the benefit has accrued is far more easily recognised…it is then also far easier to use democratic pressure to correct.
Observe and modify the excesses, minimise the discrepancies, allow justice for all, defend the weak. Societies tolerate a modicum of hierarchy and income/asset inequality.
ah, so tourists coming to NZ is unsustainable, but Kiwis being tourists in OZ is sustainable, and that has something to do with englishnessness? And 20.000 kiwis stuck in OZ has something to do with OZ, but not with Kiwis 'being tourists' during the years of the plague? 🙂
First sentence I don't think I argued for at all. Second sentence is right on both counts. Kiwi went touring into a 'bubble' risking it in a pandemic, Australians burst the bubble.
mac1 Your comments are very interesting. Thinking about Romans I found in a book I have about Caesar, a quote from Caradoc the son of leader Cunobel, when betrayed by the northern Brigantes and taken in chains to Rome.
'It is reported that when…he looked with wonder upon the great buildings of the city, he turned ironically to his captors and said: "It is strange, indeed, that a people who have so many and such rich possessions of their own should envy me and mine. It is strange that the owners of these palaces should desire to drive us from our poor hovels."'
Maori might, did? say the same to the colonials. We in turn say the same to the incoming phalanx of wealthy.
And to illustrate yours at 1.49 a brilliant little song from the past.
" If the occult teachings I learned are correct, this isn’t the end of the present cycle of civilizations—there are supposed to be several more great civilizations before the current cycle comes to an end—but we’re past the peak, and what remains of our civilization and the two to come will go through their own shorter cycles in the course of a greater decline. After that? There are supposed to be two more cycles of civilization, separated from ours and each other by long intervals of tribal existence, before humanity finishes its time on this planet."
It seems the effectiveness of the double dose Pfizer vaccine (Israeli evidence) in preventing infection diminishes by 6 months – the better news is that despite that hospitalisations in Israel are still down (despite the fact older people were vaccinated early).
We may have to look at giving the border staff, front-line workers and health workers an Astra Zeneca dose at 6 months or so.
This article looks at the mix and matching options and problems with using either vaccine for more than two doses.
New Zealand's target is 70% which has been described by health experts as a "low bar".
The fight against covid-19 has always been a political struggle as well as a medical one.
The ball is now firmly in the political court, for our leaders to be more ambitous, to inspire and lead us to lift this target.
In the past New Zealand was able to achieve vaccination rates of 80 and even 90%
"Let's Do This"
If we are really set on 'elimination' as our goal rather than 'suppression' we need to do this again.
[Here we go again:
New Zealand’s target is 70% which has been described by health experts as a “low bar”.
You continue to make the same assertion about the alleged target of 70% of the NZ population vaccinated to suit your endless and tedious narrative that this is too low, et cetera. Please provide evidence to back this up.
It is possible that I’ve missed a recent update on this and that Government has now set an official target, but this seems unlikely given the following:
* There is no set target for Covid-19 vaccination, but Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield hopes to see 90 per cent coverage by the end of 2021
You’re now in Pre-Moderation, also because there’s a raft of other unsubstantiated assertions that you keep peddling here, until you back up your above assertion in a satisfactory way – Incognito]
Do you really believe that the only ones that are vaccineshy are national/act voters or other minorities;? I am asking, because i have met vaccine shy – militant anti vaccers and they are on the left very left spectrum, or down right ;Anti Government’, sovereign citizens, earthlings etc.
Please be careful with having fun and making assertions that you cannot back up. Sabine was excellent in calling you out on this, which may have saved you from being moderated, as I’ve had enough of people peddling misinformation here.
Overseas the Right, especially the Far Right have politicised the vaccine just as they politicised mask wearing and lockdown strategies.
The key to reaching herd immunity is leadership.
To beat the virus all those in leadership positions must be on board.
All those in positions of leadership Left Right and Centre, every single MP in our parliament, need to declare their support for full immunistion, but not just in words but in actions.
How can they do this?
By getting vaccinated themselves.
If every single MP in our parliament agrees to get vaccinated the Prime Minister can announce this fact to the country and the world…..
If/when you get out of Pre-Moderation, here’s another task for you.
You seem to love laying blame with and pointing at the right, far right, right wing extremists, right wing media, et cetera, usually used synonymously with conspiracy theorists responsible for vaccine hesitancy.
I think the situation is a little more complex than that and that it might be quite difficult to draw a line between people causing, spreading, or propagating vaccine hesitancy and those who are vaccine hesitant. Obviously, there will be some overlap between these two groups. Shoving all these together on one pile and in one political corner is misleading and unhelpful. In fact, it think it is counter-productive and possibly hindering vaccine uptake and therefore potentially dangerous.
You claim that “[t]he far right conspiracy theorists spreading vaccine hesitancy are the enemy, and they are winning.”
None of the polls seems to support your assertions that this is a simple Left vs. Right issue.
So, next time you make these unsubstantiated assertions I will moderate you and ask you to back them up. Alternatively, you can adjust your language and avoid moderation ; forewarned is forearmed
New Zealand’s target is 70% which has been described by health experts as a “low bar”.
You continue to make the same assertion about the alleged target of 70% of the NZ population vaccinated to suit your endless and tedious narrative that this is too low, et cetera. Please provide evidence to back this up.
No probs.
Covid-19: Govt wants to vaccinate 70 per cent of NZ, but questions remain
Hannah Martin 07:27, Jan 29 2021
Health authorities are aiming for 70 per cent of the population to be vaccinated against Covid-19, but it is unclear over what time period this will occur.
Earlier this week, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said he hoped at least 70 per cent of New Zealand’s population would be vaccinated against the virus: “Obviously, the higher the better”.
But the Ministry of Health does not yet have a vaccination target for border, MIQ and health workers, or a time frame in which it will aim to vaccinate 70 per cent of the population, a spokesperson told Stuff.
Vaccinologist Associate Professor Dr Helen Petousis-Harris said she thought 70 per cent was a “low bar”.
Did I say that the the target of 70% was "Too low"?
I never said this.
I defy you to point to anywhere, where I said this.
I was quoting the word of Vaccinologist Associate Professor Dr Helen Petousis-Harris who said she thought 70 per cent was a “low bar”.
Note here, that I put this assertion in question marks to show that I was quoting someone else.
I am not quaified to say, whether 70% is too low or not. But I do know that the vaccination rate needs to be as high as we can possibly get it, that is, if we want to achieve Herd immunity.
Stuff Journalist Hannah Martin in her report dated, Jan 29 2021, said "Govt wants to vaccinate 70 per cent of NZ"
"Covid-19: Govt wants to vaccinate 70 per cent of NZ, but questions remain"
I said, "New Zealand’s target is 70%".. A much less pointed statement than Hanna Martin's claim that "the government" wants to vaccinate 70%.
I did not lay this claim on the government as Martin did, because just as you point out, no official government target has been stated or "set" Nor should there be. It just needs to be as high as we can possibly get it. To achieve this end, I have suggested that the government needs to give a lead. If possible, or as near as possible, to be able to give the best possible lead to our country, parliament needs to present a united front, a grand coalition if you will, against a common enemy, and not just in words but in deeds.
Now that we have the vaccine, to continue with our country's strategy of elimination, herd immunity must be the new goal.
The enemy to achieving herd immunity is vaccine hesitancy.
From the beginning the fight against the pandemic has been a political as well as a medical struggle. Conservatives (Winston Peters for one instance), have tended to favour putting the welfare of the economy first, demanding the opening up of the economy and easing border restrictions even at the height of pandemic. ("yesteday" as Peters infamously demanded)
The government's bold and world beating strategy of 'elimination' has paid off. IMHO It is now well past time that the rest of parliament got in behind the government.
The race is on.
Ashley Blomfield "hopes" for 90% vaccine coverage by the end of the year, that is a very high bar indeed, which in my opinion, will need all our representative political parties on board to achieve.
I think to call for a united parliamentary front against the virus, in both words and deeds, is a valid viewpoint to raise and share with others.
I hope you can agree.
[No, I’m afraid I cannot agree. Again, you waste an enormous amount of space here without giving a specific answer, i.e. you’re beating around the bush.
In contrast to your 6 month-old link, I provided a recent link that states two different things: 1) there is no set target; 2) Ashley Bloomfield hopes for 90%.
Instead of wasting more Moderator time and space, why don’t you get to the point in a succinct (!!) manner and provide a link, even a dated one will do, to a formal target set by Government. A hope is not a set target, no matter what the MSM headline says.
If there’s no such thing as a formal set target, which I suspect is the case, then you should adjust your narrative accordingly because otherwise your comments are deliberately misleading and could be construed as you doing the dirty work for the opposition parties and other malcontents.
Hi incognito
Good grief.
Now you are shiftiing the goal posts, first you said and I quote. "…provide a link, even a dated one will do, to a formal target set by Government."
Since I never made such a claim, and you know it, you now say. “You made the assertion about the 70% target and you cannot back it up because it was BS.”
I never made that assertion, I was quoting others
And I presume by “the assertion”, you mean when Vaccinologist Associate Professor Dr Helen Petousis-Harris said 70 per cent was a “low bar”.
Dr Petousis-Harris was reacting to Stuff Journalist Hannah Martin, who made "the assertion" "- "Covid-19: Govt wants to vaccinate 70 per cent of NZ,…."
Are you saying that I shouldn't quote from journalists and academic health proffessionals because you might disagree with their opinion, or think their opinion is BS?
If you feel so strongly that what Martin wrote or what Professor Petousis-Harris said was BS, maybe you could take it up with them. Or better yet write a post on why they are wrong. (Or even why I was wrong to quote them).
Let's be honest here for just a minute, eh Incognito; the disagreement between you and I, is one of differing political outlook. You have made it very clear over a number of issues that you fundamentally disagree with my Left of Centre political outlook. # Over bikes on buses, # over the obscenity of billionaires in space, # over suing climate polluters #over my view that a parliamentary united front would be a positive lead in combatting vaccine hesitancy.
over my view that those on the Right (and especially those on the Far Right), of the political spectrum, are more likely to believe or at least don't oppose anti-vax conspiracy theory.
It's alright to have differing views and I always like to hear yours. And I appreciated any time you have taken to explain your counter view.
I have read the links you have put up to prove your view that vaccine hesitancy is not a Left Right issue.
The first two of the three links you supplied, far from backing your claim, factually disproved your claim that vaccine hesitancy is not a Left Right issue. The third link you provided did not record political preferences of vaccine supporters or opponents. So proved nothing either way.
The first link you supplied from the Washington Post was published more than 5 years ago. Their conclusion then, was that anti-vaccination views were held by the Right more than they were held by the Left by a very slight margin.
The link you supplied to the Washington Post article which confirmed that the Right were slightlly more likely to be against vaccination, was more than two years before Trump took office, long before covid-19, long before lockdowns. All these thing worked to open this slight division into a yawning chasm.
By Chris Mooney Washington Post
January 26, 2015
……every time researchers examine the political outlooks of vaccine deniers through representative surveys, it seems that they fail to find a significant leftwing bent.
…..having a free market ideology led in the opposite direction — towards having more vaccine skepticism.
…..Yale’s Dan Kahan published results from a nationally representative survey which led him to conclude that the idea of vaccine fears being driven by leftwing ideology “lacks any factual basis.” In fact, Kahan found, “respondents formed more negative assessments of the risk and benefits of childhood vaccines as they became more conservative and identified more strongly with the Republican Party.” However, as in the prior study, this was a very slight effect.
The second link you supplied to back up your argument that there is no Left Right divide over vaccination, listed those groups with high support for getting the covid vaccine. Labour Party members made the list with 80% support, the link did not list the level of support for getting the covid vaccine by National Party members. So we don't know what National Party members support is for getting the vaccine. But we do know that it was too low to be on the list.
Colmar Brunton
The groups of voters who are more likely than average (76%) to say they would definitely or probably get
vaccinated include:
Those aged 70+ (90%)
Males aged 55+ (88%)
Those with an annual household income of between $100,001 and $150,000 (83%)
New Zealand Europeans (80%)
Labour party supporters (80%).
Those groups of voters who are more likely than average (17%) to say they would definitely not or probably
not get vaccinated include:
Those living in Gisborne or the Hawke’s Bay (30%)
Māori (26%)
While a large percentage of those who were against getting the vaccine were worried about side effecfs more were against getting the vaccine because they didn't think it was necessary 55%
There is strong evidence of a Left Right divide over vaccinations, there shouldn't be but there is.
Denying it won't make it go away. Which is sad if maybe there is something we could do to heal this rift in the body politic over vaccines and depoliticise it.
It is my opinion that there is a bleeding edge between the Far Right the Right. To staunch the cross flow of vaccine conspiracy views, across this bleeding edge, and politically isolate the covid and vaccine deniers, it would be good if the opposition parties came together around the government's call for everyone elgible to get vaccinated.
Personally Incognito I don't think our differences over whether parliament needs to respond to the issue of vaccine hesitancy by presenting a united front is such a bid deal. But you have decided to make into a huge do or die issue. Something you have been working up to for a long time.
You have been saying for a while now, (despite me not having broken any of the site rules on debate and commenting), that you don't like my "vibe" that my views make you "feel ill" or even, my comments make you want to "throw up". I have already said I am sorry that expressing my political views here makes you feel ill. But I am afraid that I can't be responsible for your extreme reaction to my views. How you react to my political viewpoint says more about you than me.
You have accused me of "bordering on fascist" of being a "cult leader", but your most common epithet is that I am "ignorant' I disagree. But that doesn't make you wrong. Even if I am ignorant, ignorance is not a crime. I am always willing to learn. I have asked you to educate me or point out where I am wrong, but you haven't. instead you choose to deliver insults and a personal attacks, that I should go and study crystals or astrology, which you have tried to falsely liken my political views to.
Now you are getting more explicit in your disaproval of my views asking me to self censor or be banned.
"I asked you to back up your assertion or modify your language accordingly"
I have more than backed up my assertions, but that is not enough is it? You want me to modify my language. Since I don't swear or indulge in personal insults or break any of the rules of debate on this site. What else can you mean, other than self censor my political views to those more acceptable to you.
.
It is my view that there is a bleeding edge between the Far Right and the Right. To staunch this cross flow of vaccine conspiracy views, it would be good if the opposition parties came behind the government.
You disagree and have chosen to blow this disagreement into a giant issue so you can ban me.
Voltaire was reputed to have said, “‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,"
He actually never said that. it was his biographer Evelyn Hall
According to Wikipedia
On the news that the government had condemned and burned fellow French philosopher Claude-Adrien Helvétius’ book. According to Votaire's biographer Evelyn Hall (Voltaire did not find the substance of Helvétius’ work particularly impressive) but was still dismayed by French Parliament’s actions.
“‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,’ was his attitude now," wroteHall.
The key word is "now" which hints that Voltaire's veiws on free speech were much more fluid. According to circumstance and time and place.
Hall's words were not Voltaire's, it is possible that though Voltaire was appalled at the censorship of another philospher's work, he may have at other times opposed the promulgation of extreme or violent and biggoted views. A view I would share. A view I also share with the government. I fully support the government over the hate speech laws. Right wing conservative views are espoused everywhere it is Left Wing views that struggle for a hearing. It is great that the Right are getting some of their own medicine back. It's about time.
The right to air you views is not an absolute right. And of course never more so than here, I have absolutely no right to air my views here, and you have every right to censor them, because you don't like their "vibe" or for any other reason, or none at all.
If you want to turn this website into an echo chamber only for views acceptable to you, that is your right.
You won't hear me complain. Enjoy your echo chamber.
Thank you for your 1,625 word-response; succinct has never been your strong point and needless repetition is not the mother of all learning. Now it is my turn, my final one.
New Zealand's target is 70% which has been described by health experts as a "low bar".
The fight against covid-19 has always been a political struggle as well as a medical one.
The ball is now firmly in the political court, for our leaders to be more ambitious [sic], to inspire and lead us to lift this target.
That was BS because NZ has never had and still does not have a set target regardless of what various people, including experts and Bloomfield, for example, have expressed as hope (and always hoping for more!). Hope is not a or the “target” of New Zealand.
In any case, the infamous article you always return to was from January 2021 when the Delta variant was hardly on the scene. Things have changed since and NZ modelling has shown that herd immunity might be near impossible by vaccination alone. I linked to the modelling because you were unaware of it and asked me to back it up with a link: “[c]ome on, help me out here. I am trying to understand where you are coming from.?”. Remember that?
Of course, you and I disagree on many points and issues. My main frustration with your comments is your many (but not all) wrong premises and many (but not all) weak arguments. Indeed, they are your opinions, not facts, yet you present them as absolutisms with an overzealous confidence and unwavering narrative of a dogmatic believer. As such, genuine debate with you is literally impossible. So, no, I utterly reject your notion that I “fundamentally disagree with [your] Left of Centre political outlook” [my italics]; I reject your piss-poor arguing.
You have never stated as such “that those on the Right (and especially those on the Far Right), of the political spectrum, are more likely to believe or at least don't oppose anti-vax conspiracy theory”. You declared them “the enemy, and they are winning”.
So, now you seem to be saying that they might not be the only enemy, which was exactly my point. I asked you where the “vivid antivaxxers before Covid” had gone. Your reply was an article arguing that “Nazi Hippies” and “Far Right Overlap”. What a load of codswallop! Your hypothesis seems to be that all Lefty antivaxxers have either died from preventable diseases because they refused to be vaccinated or moved across to the Dark Side to become Far Right, is that correct? In New Zealand? Not a single Lefty antivaxxer left? So shocking it is unbelievable that anyone would believe such a thing. BTW, being vaccine hesitant and being an antivaxxer are not the same thing.
The WP link was from before Covid-19; that was the whole point.
The Horizon link showed that whoever they are, antivaxxers are not “winning”, at least not here in NZ. Whether the Far Right is winning in NZ is a different question, but latest political polls seem to suggest this may also not be the case. BTW, I don’t consider the National Party as Far Right, but maybe you confuse them with another National Party from a different era in a different country (hint: they also have MMP), yes?
In short, your Far Right conspiracy theories are just that, especially in relation to Covid vaccination. Others see Reds under the bed or dancing Cossacks.
You argue that a united Parliament would depoliticise the vaccination issue. I think it is the opposite, it would politicise it. I linked to a paper that argued that “[o]ne strategy for increasing vaccination willingness is to politicize the issue of vaccination itself”. How you would do this and whether this has the desired effect is hypothetical. I have an issue with applying so much (peer) pressure that it becomes enforced; we have seen plenty examples in history on how well that can work out, which gives reason to ponder and thread carefully and cautiously in matters such as these, in my humble opinion.
I don’t have any right to ban you or censor you for your ill-considered views and I don’t want to. I can moderate you for unsubstantiated claims, but I’d rather not and prefer if you back them up, especially when asked. I cannot make you accept facts and information if you don’t want to, which clearly is the case with you, as you have demonstrated in your overly long epistle.
I don’t want to turn this website into an echo chamber only for views acceptable to me. I don’t want to and have no right at all to do so; I’d be booted off this site before lunch time and rightly so. That said, I did trash the comment you posted after your Magnum Opus of 1,625 words that had the lyrics and YouTube clip of the song Ordinary World by Duran Duran. I could never stand them, and they were totally overrated. Such a shite song by such a shite band. But that’s entirely subjective and you were under Moderation, so I did.
It is becoming clear that you won’t change your ways because you don’t think there’s anything wrong with them. So, what should I do? I’ll take you out of Pre-Moderation and will ask you to back up any unsubstantiated claims like other commenters and I do with any other commenter who does the same thing. If you or anybody else spread misinformation on an important topic you can expect to be pulled up on it by another commenter or by me. This is the way it works here and always has.
We have come full circle and I’m going to turn over the page and I don’t want to (have to) waste one more single word on this!
Jenny, you know how this goes. If you make moderators work too hard, they get fed up and ban people. Just acknowledge that you posted the 70% target but now know that it's not a formal target. Or, argue it out and get a ban. Personally, if I'd been moderating this I'd have given you a medium length ban a few days ago just to free up my time.
First rule of mod club, is don't piss off the mods, especially around using up our time. To that end, if you want to write 1000+ word replies to a moderation and general issues with a particular mod (currently sitting in the filter), I'd suggest writing a post instead about one of the things you feel passionate about. Consider the value in that vs an inevitable ban.
Of the 8,787 people who have died in Texas due to COVID-19 since early February, at least 43 were fully vaccinated, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.
That means 99.5% of people who died due to COVID-19 in Texas from Feb. 8 to July 14 were unvaccinated, while 0.5% were the result of "breakthrough infections," which DSHS defines as people who contracted the virus two weeks after being fully vaccinated.
The agency said nearly 75% of the 43 vaccinated people who died were fighting a serious underlying condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer or chronic lung disease.
Maybe we just start vaccinating those that have not gotten a jab at all first, and keep the borders closed to anyone but returning kiwis – who in some cases may have gotten vaccinations in the UK/US/Europe etc where they now currently live.
Never mind though, lets hope that the 20.000 kiwis on holiday in OZ come back without the virus, and lets hope that those that miss out on flights to come back home will not get sick while stuck over there.
Yes Sabine that 20,000 figure makes me shiver. We have done so well, and I fear are wallowing in self-gratification and enabling people who want to make a personal stand because they are too special to be attacked by a virus or a needle. I'm getting relaxed myself, though still use the hand wash where I go, but no-one else around me does. They view it as unnecessary and are relying on the government and Health Dept to do much.
But notice how much they are spending on full page advertisements in the media, and who stops to read every word. This is the lazy way of neolib government. I noticed this happening when they were making an effort to change practices in child rearing, stop smacking, better health. Preach from the top, lots spent on talking and publishing, but not get amongst the peeps helping them to fix problems, giving both information and demonstration and help close at hand on demand when needed.
The growing consensus that at least some Americans will need a booster is partly tied to research suggesting that Pfizer’s vaccine is less effective after about six months.
The most recent figures from the Israeli Ministry of Health, released late this week, suggested that Pfizer’s vaccine was just 39 percent effective in preventing infection in that country in late June and early July, compared to 95 percent from January to April.
The vaccine remained more than 90 percent effective in preventing severe disease, and nearly as effective in preventing hospitalization. Israel began offering a third Pfizer dose to citizens with severely weakened immune systems on July 12
The anti-vax movement is killing people, and the right-wing media is egging it on
Eoin Higgins
Sun, July 18, 2021, 12:28 AM·6 min read
Every person who died of COVID in Maryland this June was unvaccinated……
Anti-mask and anti-lockdown protests have combined with the existing anti-vax movement over the past 15 months, creating a Frankenstein’s monster of well-intentioned skepticism of the pharmaceutical industry, various pseudo-sciences, and the far right…..
If we are achieve levels of immunisation necessary to confer herd immunity to the general population, we will have to politically isolate our version of these right wing extremists. This will require a united front right across the mainstream political spectrum.
Taking personal responsibility is up to an individual when it comes to vaccination. Some people just do not give a hoot about anyone else's health and they do not value their own health.
Here on a domestic level describes what is happening at international level.
Coronavirus: NSW begs rest of Australia for COVID-19 vaccines
Australia's largest state of New South Wales on Friday urged the federal government to divert vaccine doses to Sydney, the epicentre of a flaring COVID-19 outbreak, raising objections from other states desperate for protection from the virus.
Now, NSW wants their own vaccination rollout to be sped up at the expenses of other safer states.
No-one would begrudge them this because their need is now greater (even if through fault of their own).
Now, will the unhinged RWNJs of New Zealand climb on board WA, NT Queensland, and Tasmania for their relatively poor vaccine rollout performance having given up stocks for those in greater need?
I always get a bit confused with the different states in OZ, but are the individual states responsible for their own vaccine purchases/ roll outs or is there an over arching government (for all of OZ) that handles that?
Example, Germany is a 'federation of states' that individually have their own governments, but the German Government is the one to purchase the vaccines and then distribute it to the individual states, who then with the allocated vaccines run their own roll out?
Oz sounds similar to Germany. Vaccine rollout is a federal (Coalition) responsibility, all other health decisions including Covid restrictions, lockdowns are state determined. Basically all states and territories, blue or red, have similar responses to Covid as NZ with the exception of NSW. The other key difference between Oz and NZ is that the federal government went with AstraZeneca, not Pfizer, as the main vaccine (AZ manufactured in Melbourne so a lot cheaper) and the hyped up scare stories about AZ side effects have meant a lot of vaccine hesitancy.
On Kim Hill this morning. About the debate for younger voting age 16 and up. Some points I noted – That voters choose from their beliefs and what will be best for them, countered by comment that isn't it supposed to be for what is best for the country.
And the statement that young people are being taught civics at school, and are therefore well-informed to make decisions.
And that schoolage is good for getting involved in voting and thinking about politics as the 18-24 age group get sidetracked into careers and places to live and starting out on life as young adults.
What do they get taught at school about civics, and building communities and how a country is supposed to run? Do all students learn this, ie is it compulsory or left up to the local school boards ? Probably USA style as have been other educational 'innovations' (so great a model for us to follow /sarc).
Perhaps we could invite someone with the knowledge and experience about civic education for school-age young adults, plus the ability to be objective, to write a guest post giving us the 'gen' on this?
Why is what kids they learn about civics at school important? Or anything else for that matter.
There are some who believe 5G towers disperse covid 19. There are some who believe the vaccine has microchips in it. There are some who believe the Coronavirus is a hoax. Some believe it's a big plot to take over the world.
So what did those people learn at school? They get to vote. What makes them getting to vote more valid than an "ordinary" 15 year? Simple miles on the clock?
What's that all about Pete. You are welcome to have a little rant about the topic. I still think that understanding the system that we live in, and the culture also, at school, will be beneficial for all. If parents don't know or ever talk about it, then the very basis of their adult lives may never be thought about, understood. Philosophies also should be discussed rather than setting the kids up for some religious stream which may not be one's preference, and be opposite to what a parent would say but often doesn't get round to it.
Over the years National policy towards law and order has proven to be a failure. Yet they still persist. At some point some journalists with clue in, and poor old Simeon is lost.
Is Judith playing the internal dirty politics long game, or am I just fantasising?
Nice piece from Aaron Bastani on how housing security transformed my mental health. In all the recent local discussions on mental health, so much of it has been about the nature and funding of mental health services. Virtually nothing has been about protecting mental health and preventing mental health crises through financial and housing security for everyone. Instead we argue about the disposition of ambulances at the bottom of the cliff; whether there are enough ambulances, who funded the most ambulances, and whether the ambulances are sufficiently tuned to the needs of Maori, etc.
It seems possible that by fixing the material and financial conditions of everday life, we will give mental health professionals the time and space to work with people whose mental health issues are truly endogenous/organic in origin – rather than triggered by an unlivable economic environment.
With news media enforcing payment or using of cookies maybe new ones that are easier to access are starting. I haven't found out much about News Logics. This is their About:
About us – Welcome to News Logics, We’re dedicated to giving you the news. Founded in 2017 by Frances Moody, News Logics has come a long way from its beginnings in the united state. When Frances Moody first started out, her passion for providing gripping content in the world of up to date, drove them to do tons of research so that News Logics can offer you the latest information, and small to big news We now serve reader all over the world and are thrilled that we’re able to turn our passion into our own website.
It refers to the united state – an oxymoron? Sounds as if it is run by a bot.
I have watched four 'dwellings' go up on a tiny section next – like right next to State Highway 5 in Rotorua go up. Curiosity killed to cat and today i went there and stopped for a look. Now they are small, ackward and if you look around you can see some nice and shoddy craftsmanship – but never mind, i thought, surely these are affordable? Right? Like big enough for a small family, or a couple. Yeah, nah nah,
they are 619.000 each. No extra charge for the noise pollution and traffic pollution, that is included in teh price, cause generous.
About 3000 requests for emergency housing were rejected by the Government last year, nearly triple the number the year before.
I no longer believe the minister's response, does the minister?
“The number of declines does not necessarily mean the client is left unsupported in their housing need as their accommodation need may have been met in discussion with their case manager through other support,” Sepuloni said.
“For example, when a person approaches the Ministry of Social Development for assistance, there is a range of assistance available, which may have resulted in other support or referrals being provided.”
So…is she claiming supports have tripled in the last year. Yeah, right.
The alternative take on this is that emergency housing has a big neon "no vacancy" sign over it. There is not enough room so people are being turned away to presumably live on the street, if they are lucky in the shelter of a vehicle.
You’re free what and whom to believe. However, for the sake of balanced opinion, you might want to ask yourself what else has changed between 2019 and 2020. For example, how many more requests had been received. Of course, a one-sided view leads to one-sided thinking.
From your link:
They show 2997 applications were turned down in 2020, compared to 1032 in 2019.
vs.
Roughly 155,000 grants were approved in 2020 at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $300 million. About 101,000 were approved in 2019, totalling $150m.
Did you see my post? did you click on the link? Do you realise that this is a new build, 4 on a tiny section with two houses literally the width of a walkway from a motorway? did you see the cost? 619.000 per 'unit'. Rentable 'value' of 540 – 550 a week? The collective greed of this country and the collective failure of various governments to manage housing as a social good will come to bite us in our collective behinds sooner or later.
As for Mrs. Sepuloni, she is the Paula Benefit of the Labour Party. There is no real difference between the two.
And frankly, many many are getting really tired of these games of 'may have or may have not'. Because too many don't have anything at all.
So yeah, i pity anyone who believes a word coming from this women. She does as she is told to do.
As for Mrs. Sepuloni, she is the Paula Benefit of the Labour Party. There is no real difference between the two.
I’m sorry, but I find this nonsense unpalatable. In essence, you do the same thing as always, which is shooting the messenger and your pet hates AKA targets, no matter what or when. Debating with people like you, with a closet mind, is therefore an exercise in futility and thus a waste of time.
I’m really not in the mood for your ignorant babble.
You are a fierce defender of the Labour Party, Incognito, i give you this. 🙂
And i guess i am a ' virtue signaler' as you so politely called me some time ago, and i am very very happy about this compliment. I should thank you for it, cause I would find it worse to see what is going on in the country and never say anything and just pretend it does not exist in order to not ruffle a few feathers or for fear of rocking some boats.
As for my comments, i always try to be at the very least respectful enough to provide a link to support my thoughts. And if you had a look at the link above you know that this can't go on like this for much longer, because at some stage we just have to many people who are unhoused or despite working and a 20 NZD min wage can't afford to spend 540 – 550 for a 'dwelling'. And that is not good for anyone. Not you, not me, and not our communities.
[I don’t know why you decided to misrepresent me and/or ascribe an obviously incorrect motivation to me.
You are a fierce defender of the Labour Party, Incognito, i give you this. 🙂
The rest of your comment was irrelevant and merely another opportunity for your virtue-signalling. I don’t do medals or damehoods, sorry.
I’m allergic to commenters misrepresenting other commenters here, to commenters spreading misinformation, to commenters shooting the messenger especially when it is another commenter, to commenters who divert and derail threads, to commenters who only want to push their own wheelbarrow and don’t want to listen to others, to commenters who twist things to suit their narrow narrative and to confirm their own bias, et cetera. You see that nothing in this list has anything to do with attacking one political party or defending another per se. It is nothing personal either, before to jump to that silly conclusion.
I’m especially sensitive to commenters who accuse Authors, Moderators, and/or this site of being a (paid) tool and/or ascribe ulterior motives. This is specifically mentioned in the site’s Policy in the list of self-martyrdom offenses. It is usually used to ‘justify’ and goes hand-in-hand with shooting the messenger, be it the Author, Moderator, and/or the site.
If you don’t like what you read here, provide a robust argument that addresses content, leave and go somewhere else, and/or start your own blog. In other words, you don’t have to put up with our shit and we don’t have to put with your shit, if we cannot agree to disagree.
When I get an allergic reaction I take appropriate medication. When I go into anaphylactic shock I have to take drastic action. Your comment is causing quite a severe reaction and I might have to go for the more heavy-duty treatment option. I already told you that I wasn’t in the mood but you’re not a very good listener or simply chose to ignore it. Please don’t make things worse, thanks – Incognito]
While dwellings have prestige and speculative value they will be unavailable to those for whom prestige and value lie elsewhere and who live shorter lives, suffer material hardship and do not vote.
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Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
The little fellow didn't make it:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/toa-stranded-orca-calf-buried-local-marae
Seems to be a technical problem with commenting.
A big thankyou to the dedicated men and women who worked 24 hrs a day in an effort to save him and return him to his family.
Hopefully an appropriate fruit tree will be planted o'er top….
Apparently Australia's Great Barrier Reef is no longer endangered, and will no longer be listed as such, because Australia's Environment Minister Sussan Leys has done a standup job convincing UNESCO that there are alternative facts:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-23/great-barrier-reef-avoids-in-danger-unesco-tag/100319652
They'll look at it again next year.
It is the second time the Great Barrier Reef has been spared inclusion on the "in danger" list.
In 2015, lobbying by then-environment minister Greg Hunt escaped a push to have the reef added to the list.
After that, the reef was hit with an unprecedented three mass bleaching events in five years, driven by climate change and water quality targets that were not met.
Hey but let's hear it for Queensland tourism.
Make it endangered and everyone will rush to see it before it vanishes – very good for tourism, and then they can break off bits of bleached coral for souveniers. (Santa I would like spellcheck and pop-up correction like I get on google email)!
I know C and V – I’ve got that on my tech CV!
Cant copy and paste!
First "C", then "V" 🙂
John Michael Greer challenges the technophiles!
"One of the things I find fascinating about the deepening twilight of industrial society is how rigid our modern notions of technology have become. Most people these days, asked to imagine a society with technology about as advanced as ours, present something all but identical to what we’ve got now; asked to imagine a society with less advanced technology, they spring to a distorted pop-culture version of early medieval Europe if they don’t leap straight to even more distorted pop-culture notions about the Stone Age; asked to imagine a society with technology more advanced than ours, you can bet dollars for dilithium crystals that they’ll rehash the same tired imagery from early twentieth century sci-fi that has been stuck sideways in our collective imagination for decades now."
https://www.ecosophia.net/whispers-from-antiquity/
+1
I recall from my schools days projects on 'the Dark Age' a term now apparently avoided that described the roughly thousand year period after the collapse of the (western ) Roman Empire and the subsequent loss of knowledge and practices…..rinse and repeat?
I remember reading that certain tribes? in Britain asked if the Romans would come back, their organisation was good, and their infrastructure and they largely left the people to live within their own culture. But the Romans had trouble at home.
'Bloody Romans…what have they ever done for us ' springs to mind.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Dark-Ages – refers to the invasion of Europe by various other people.
but also this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_technology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_technology#Civil_technologies
the times were not quite that dark.
Yes there were undoubtably areas of 'light' if you like but fragmentation , disorganisation and I suspect a loss of common thought/education didnt make for an easy time….and importantly much that had been before was lost, good and bad.
The point I think Greer makes is that progress dosnt cease, it changes….and we need to remember we dont know what we dont know….even events a few centuries ago are largely a mystery to us …hell, even events a few decades ago are in constant dispute.
I don't have a lot of 'technology' in my house or life. I have a computer, a landline, and that is pretty much it. We have actually not invented anything much, we are upgrading 'systems' but that is about it. And i guess this is where the difference between the medieval times and our times are. The best we can do atm is change the look of a gadget or the system. Heck even the
Ev are not new technology considering that the 1920 had them already.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_electric_vehicle
Its not just technology that is impacted in a collapse….knowledge in general, systems, welfare even beliefs.
Greer's writing on catabolic collapse is very interesting…. and it is without the mystical.
https://www.ecoshock.org/transcripts/greer_on_collapse.pdf
but with that lack of technology also come skills.
If you only cook ready made meals can you cook from scratch? if you only use your microwave can you cook on a coal range or a sun oven? if all your clothes come from a shop can you still sew and fix a garment?
these are all skills, same as with wood work, building, fishing, hunting, planting etc. How many of us still have these skills?
So yes, we now have a world were many have lots of gadgets but can't boil water without burning down the house. (my sister 🙂 )
Dont disagree with that…though would note some skills easier to learn than others AND many time constrained…..its best not to have to learn how to grow food say when the supermarkets are empty and theres a drought.
@ Pat,
well i guess when the supermarkets run out of food cause the planet is done with us, its soylent green 🙂
"Dark" describes the lack of sources, not the society.
Thats the first time Ive heard that
I linked to a blog about it below.
Interesting….dont think there was much lack of writing through that period though it may be fair to observe that much of what survived was curated by the Church which would sit with Petrarch who appeared to bemoaning the quality rather than the quantity of writings.
If we we drop the contested term 'Dark Ages' what do we know of the period following the collapse of the Western Roman Empiore?
[Content deleted because it contained too many links that triggered Auto-Moderation]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages
That's a bit of a retcon of what Petrarch actually said when he coined the expression: "Amidst the errors there shone forth men of genius; no less keen were their eyes, although they were surrounded by darkness and dense gloom"
Yes my take too…he could well have been taking aim at the Church
Petrarch said "darkness". But Baronius actually coined the term:
] The Annales covered the first twelve centuries of Christianity to 1198, and was published in twelve volumes between 1588 and 1607. It was in Volume X that Baronius coined the term "dark age" for the period between the end of the Carolingian Empire in 888[24] and the first stirrings of Gregorian Reform under Pope Clement II in 1046:
Lots to suggest times were literally dark.
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Dec. 17, 2000 — The beginning of the Dark Ages may have been literal, as well as figurative, as the result of a massive volcanic eruption in the 6th century, according to a volcanologist at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/01/010102061812.htm
The ices of Greenland and Antarctica bear the fingerprints of a monster: a gigantic volcanic eruption in 539 or 540 A.D. that killed tens of thousands and helped trigger one of the worst periods of global cooling in the last 2,000 years. Now, after years of searching, a team of scientists has finally tracked down the source of the eruption.
https://archive.li/hU69K (NatGeo)
yes, but this 'does not refer to the 'dark' ages.
It should actually, as the times themselves were actually quite sophisticated and if you like the term, fashion forward. But generally the terms
'dark ages' is applied to infer a time where people regressed rather then progressed.
But you could also call this the small ice age, as some do indeed call it.
The suggestion is that a consequence of the lower levels of sunlight was cultural, social and economic regression.
Some medievalists disagree most bluntly with the "regression" idea.
As i pointed out, hence why learned people now no longer use the term 'dark ages'.
I have however heard of the 'small ice age' in regards to weather, low sunshine, crop failures etc.
Collaborators? Sycophants? One percenters? Rome lovers? Dionysians? Aristocrats? Tourism operators? Celtic artifact salesmen? Chariot exporters?
Lol…all of the above and no doubt more.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Exactly, pat. So, who for example is advocating 'bringing back the Brits"?
They are the ones who would prefer benevolent despotism aka royalty, the ones who despise indigenous culture and language, who want tourism at the risk of our health, who want trade at the risk of covid deaths, who want their overseas trips and so flaunt their wealth at the risk of their community.
For they are the one percenters, and their sycophants, the untitled aristocracy, the ICE car importers, the exporters of swamp kauri, the manufacturers of coal-dried milk powder, the tainters of water, sellers of our land to foreigners, enablers of overseas bolt holers.
The Romans had them. The Britons had them.
We've got them.
I dont know of a society of any size without hierarchy….do you?
Perhaps scale is the problem?
Scale is just one factor.
It is our thinking and how we think about and set up these hierarchical structures and institutions, held together by the ‘laws of the land’ as well as moral ‘laws’. In other words, it is a human construct.
How these institutions are set up are a function of scale I'd suggest….that which can work perfectly adequately locally may not at say a national level.
It is easier to consider impacts and needs when dealing with small groups and where the benefit has accrued is far more easily recognised…it is then also far easier to use democratic pressure to correct.
Nowhere to hide
Observe and modify the excesses, minimise the discrepancies, allow justice for all, defend the weak. Societies tolerate a modicum of hierarchy and income/asset inequality.
Modicum being the operative word…..the problem appears to be the measure of 'modicum'
In many cases scales are the problem – signature trait of reptilian consciousness.
lol..very good
Is that why we now have 20.000 kiwis stuck in OZ? cause their englishnessness caused them to want unsustainable tourism?
Actually, Sabine, I think it's something to do with the Australians?
ah, so tourists coming to NZ is unsustainable, but Kiwis being tourists in OZ is sustainable, and that has something to do with englishnessness? And 20.000 kiwis stuck in OZ has something to do with OZ, but not with Kiwis 'being tourists' during the years of the plague? 🙂
First sentence I don't think I argued for at all. Second sentence is right on both counts. Kiwi went touring into a 'bubble' risking it in a pandemic, Australians burst the bubble.
mac1 Your comments are very interesting. Thinking about Romans I found in a book I have about Caesar, a quote from Caradoc the son of leader Cunobel, when betrayed by the northern Brigantes and taken in chains to Rome.
'It is reported that when…he looked with wonder upon the great buildings of the city, he turned ironically to his captors and said: "It is strange, indeed, that a people who have so many and such rich possessions of their own should envy me and mine. It is strange that the owners of these palaces should desire to drive us from our poor hovels."'
Maori might, did? say the same to the colonials. We in turn say the same to the incoming phalanx of wealthy.
And to illustrate yours at 1.49 a brilliant little song from the past.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z45EB4TiYz4
The "deepening twilight of industrial society" imagery resonates; fun ‘whispers‘ less so.
This?
" If the occult teachings I learned are correct, this isn’t the end of the present cycle of civilizations—there are supposed to be several more great civilizations before the current cycle comes to an end—but we’re past the peak, and what remains of our civilization and the two to come will go through their own shorter cycles in the course of a greater decline. After that? There are supposed to be two more cycles of civilization, separated from ours and each other by long intervals of tribal existence, before humanity finishes its time on this planet."
https://www.ecosophia.net/whispers-from-antiquity/
If so then yes, tend to agree…..but then he is a Druid.
Theosophist
A self described Druid.
Reading that took me back to my days as a credulous 11 year old that came across some of von Daniken's books.
Reading that took me back to my days as an 11 year old boy scout….be prepared
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZV3kGRY1j0
lol…indeed we are.
Unless you plan on living forever
It seems the effectiveness of the double dose Pfizer vaccine (Israeli evidence) in preventing infection diminishes by 6 months – the better news is that despite that hospitalisations in Israel are still down (despite the fact older people were vaccinated early).
We may have to look at giving the border staff, front-line workers and health workers an Astra Zeneca dose at 6 months or so.
This article looks at the mix and matching options and problems with using either vaccine for more than two doses.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01359-3
Israel has an vaccination rate of 80%
New Zealand's target is 70% which has been described by health experts as a "low bar".
The fight against covid-19 has always been a political struggle as well as a medical one.
The ball is now firmly in the political court, for our leaders to be more ambitous, to inspire and lead us to lift this target.
In the past New Zealand was able to achieve vaccination rates of 80 and even 90%
"Let's Do This"
If we are really set on 'elimination' as our goal rather than 'suppression' we need to do this again.
[Here we go again:
You continue to make the same assertion about the alleged target of 70% of the NZ population vaccinated to suit your endless and tedious narrative that this is too low, et cetera. Please provide evidence to back this up.
It is possible that I’ve missed a recent update on this and that Government has now set an official target, but this seems unlikely given the following:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300250582/covid19-vaccine-medsafe-issues-alert-on-rare-side-effect-of-pfizer-jab
You’re now in Pre-Moderation, also because there’s a raft of other unsubstantiated assertions that you keep peddling here, until you back up your above assertion in a satisfactory way – Incognito]
About 30% of people vote act, national and other minority parties so it's to be expected that about that number would be vaccine shy.
Do you really believe that the only ones that are vaccineshy are national/act voters or other minorities;? I am asking, because i have met vaccine shy – militant anti vaccers and they are on the left very left spectrum, or down right ;Anti Government’, sovereign citizens, earthlings etc.
Na just having a little fun on a bored Saturday
Please be careful with having fun and making assertions that you cannot back up. Sabine was excellent in calling you out on this, which may have saved you from being moderated, as I’ve had enough of people peddling misinformation here.
Oops my bad ,
‘
“About 30% of people vote act, national and other minority parties so it’s to be expected that about that number would be vaccine shy.”
bwaghorn
Understood
If/when you get out of Pre-Moderation, here’s another task for you.
You seem to love laying blame with and pointing at the right, far right, right wing extremists, right wing media, et cetera, usually used synonymously with conspiracy theorists responsible for vaccine hesitancy.
I think the situation is a little more complex than that and that it might be quite difficult to draw a line between people causing, spreading, or propagating vaccine hesitancy and those who are vaccine hesitant. Obviously, there will be some overlap between these two groups. Shoving all these together on one pile and in one political corner is misleading and unhelpful. In fact, it think it is counter-productive and possibly hindering vaccine uptake and therefore potentially dangerous.
You claim that “[t]he far right conspiracy theorists spreading vaccine hesitancy are the enemy, and they are winning.”
This doesn’t seem to be reflected in/by polls:
https://static.colmarbrunton.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/9-13-March-2021_1-NEWS-Colmar-Brunton-Poll-report.pdf
https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/618/overall-vaccine-uptake-potential-rises-to-80
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-strategy-planning-insights/covid-19-vaccine-research-insights
None of the polls seems to support your assertions that this is a simple Left vs. Right issue.
So, next time you make these unsubstantiated assertions I will moderate you and ask you to back them up. Alternatively, you can adjust your language and avoid moderation ; forewarned is forearmed
HTH
I just saw on the ABC News TV channel in Oz that 69 per cent of Republicans say they will get vaccinated.
See my Moderation note @ 10:51 am.
[No, I’m afraid I cannot agree. Again, you waste an enormous amount of space here without giving a specific answer, i.e. you’re beating around the bush.
In contrast to your 6 month-old link, I provided a recent link that states two different things: 1) there is no set target; 2) Ashley Bloomfield hopes for 90%.
Instead of wasting more Moderator time and space, why don’t you get to the point in a succinct (!!) manner and provide a link, even a dated one will do, to a formal target set by Government. A hope is not a set target, no matter what the MSM headline says.
If there’s no such thing as a formal set target, which I suspect is the case, then you should adjust your narrative accordingly because otherwise your comments are deliberately misleading and could be construed as you doing the dirty work for the opposition parties and other malcontents.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2107/S00163/dhb-vaccine-targets-meaningless.htm
I hope you understand what this moderation is about. If not, let me know, and I’ll end the needless agony – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 7:28 pm.
Hi Incognito,
I can't provide a link to something that doesn't exist.
Why would you ask me to, since I never claimed there was any formal target set by the government.
I defy you to point out where I ever said such a thing.
Yours J.
[I’m not getting through to you and wasting my time.
You made the assertion about the 70% target and you cannot back it up because it was BS.
See the problem here? – Incognito]
You asked me to look for something that doesn't exist.
And in return I asked you to look for somethng which doesn't exist.
I'ts hilarious.
[I asked you to back up your assertion or modify your language accordingly.
Neither has happened.
I don’t think this is funny and I’m not laughing.
You have one more chance self-correct before you go in the Black list until further notice.
This has wasted too much time already and is getting beyond the tedious – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 10:45 pm.
Hi incognito
Good grief.
Now you are shiftiing the goal posts, first you said and I quote. "…provide a link, even a dated one will do, to a formal target set by Government."
Since I never made such a claim, and you know it, you now say. “You made the assertion about the 70% target and you cannot back it up because it was BS.”
I never made that assertion, I was quoting others
And I presume by “the assertion”, you mean when Vaccinologist Associate Professor Dr Helen Petousis-Harris said 70 per cent was a “low bar”.
Dr Petousis-Harris was reacting to Stuff Journalist Hannah Martin, who made "the assertion" "- "Covid-19: Govt wants to vaccinate 70 per cent of NZ,…."
Are you saying that I shouldn't quote from journalists and academic health proffessionals because you might disagree with their opinion, or think their opinion is BS?
If you feel so strongly that what Martin wrote or what Professor Petousis-Harris said was BS, maybe you could take it up with them. Or better yet write a post on why they are wrong. (Or even why I was wrong to quote them).
Let's be honest here for just a minute, eh Incognito; the disagreement between you and I, is one of differing political outlook. You have made it very clear over a number of issues that you fundamentally disagree with my Left of Centre political outlook. # Over bikes on buses, # over the obscenity of billionaires in space, # over suing climate polluters #over my view that a parliamentary united front would be a positive lead in combatting vaccine hesitancy.
over my view that those on the Right (and especially those on the Far Right), of the political spectrum, are more likely to believe or at least don't oppose anti-vax conspiracy theory.
It's alright to have differing views and I always like to hear yours. And I appreciated any time you have taken to explain your counter view.
I have read the links you have put up to prove your view that vaccine hesitancy is not a Left Right issue.
The first two of the three links you supplied, far from backing your claim, factually disproved your claim that vaccine hesitancy is not a Left Right issue. The third link you provided did not record political preferences of vaccine supporters or opponents. So proved nothing either way.
The first link you supplied from the Washington Post was published more than 5 years ago. Their conclusion then, was that anti-vaccination views were held by the Right more than they were held by the Left by a very slight margin.
The link you supplied to the Washington Post article which confirmed that the Right were slightlly more likely to be against vaccination, was more than two years before Trump took office, long before covid-19, long before lockdowns. All these thing worked to open this slight division into a yawning chasm.
The second link you supplied to back up your argument that there is no Left Right divide over vaccination, listed those groups with high support for getting the covid vaccine. Labour Party members made the list with 80% support, the link did not list the level of support for getting the covid vaccine by National Party members. So we don't know what National Party members support is for getting the vaccine. But we do know that it was too low to be on the list.
The third link you supplied to a Horizon poll did not record people's political position relating to vaccine hesitancy.
https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/618/overall-vaccine-uptake-potential-rises-to-80
There is strong evidence of a Left Right divide over vaccinations, there shouldn't be but there is.
Denying it won't make it go away. Which is sad if maybe there is something we could do to heal this rift in the body politic over vaccines and depoliticise it.
It is my opinion that there is a bleeding edge between the Far Right the Right. To staunch the cross flow of vaccine conspiracy views, across this bleeding edge, and politically isolate the covid and vaccine deniers, it would be good if the opposition parties came together around the government's call for everyone elgible to get vaccinated.
Personally Incognito I don't think our differences over whether parliament needs to respond to the issue of vaccine hesitancy by presenting a united front is such a bid deal. But you have decided to make into a huge do or die issue. Something you have been working up to for a long time.
You have been saying for a while now, (despite me not having broken any of the site rules on debate and commenting), that you don't like my "vibe" that my views make you "feel ill" or even, my comments make you want to "throw up". I have already said I am sorry that expressing my political views here makes you feel ill. But I am afraid that I can't be responsible for your extreme reaction to my views. How you react to my political viewpoint says more about you than me.
You have accused me of "bordering on fascist" of being a "cult leader", but your most common epithet is that I am "ignorant' I disagree. But that doesn't make you wrong. Even if I am ignorant, ignorance is not a crime. I am always willing to learn. I have asked you to educate me or point out where I am wrong, but you haven't. instead you choose to deliver insults and a personal attacks, that I should go and study crystals or astrology, which you have tried to falsely liken my political views to.
Now you are getting more explicit in your disaproval of my views asking me to self censor or be banned.
"I asked you to back up your assertion or modify your language accordingly"
I have more than backed up my assertions, but that is not enough is it? You want me to modify my language. Since I don't swear or indulge in personal insults or break any of the rules of debate on this site. What else can you mean, other than self censor my political views to those more acceptable to you.
.
It is my view that there is a bleeding edge between the Far Right and the Right. To staunch this cross flow of vaccine conspiracy views, it would be good if the opposition parties came behind the government.
You disagree and have chosen to blow this disagreement into a giant issue so you can ban me.
Voltaire was reputed to have said, “‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,"
He actually never said that. it was his biographer Evelyn Hall
According to Wikipedia
On the news that the government had condemned and burned fellow French philosopher Claude-Adrien Helvétius’ book. According to Votaire's biographer Evelyn Hall (Voltaire did not find the substance of Helvétius’ work particularly impressive) but was still dismayed by French Parliament’s actions.
“‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,’ was his attitude now," wrote Hall.
The key word is "now" which hints that Voltaire's veiws on free speech were much more fluid. According to circumstance and time and place.
Hall's words were not Voltaire's, it is possible that though Voltaire was appalled at the censorship of another philospher's work, he may have at other times opposed the promulgation of extreme or violent and biggoted views. A view I would share. A view I also share with the government. I fully support the government over the hate speech laws. Right wing conservative views are espoused everywhere it is Left Wing views that struggle for a hearing. It is great that the Right are getting some of their own medicine back. It's about time.
The right to air you views is not an absolute right. And of course never more so than here, I have absolutely no right to air my views here, and you have every right to censor them, because you don't like their "vibe" or for any other reason, or none at all.
If you want to turn this website into an echo chamber only for views acceptable to you, that is your right.
You won't hear me complain. Enjoy your echo chamber.
Hi Jenny,
Thank you for your 1,625 word-response; succinct has never been your strong point and needless repetition is not the mother of all learning. Now it is my turn, my final one.
You stated the following without quotation marks and reference (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24-07-2021/#comment-1804909):
That was BS because NZ has never had and still does not have a set target regardless of what various people, including experts and Bloomfield, for example, have expressed as hope (and always hoping for more!). Hope is not a or the “target” of New Zealand.
In any case, the infamous article you always return to was from January 2021 when the Delta variant was hardly on the scene. Things have changed since and NZ modelling has shown that herd immunity might be near impossible by vaccination alone. I linked to the modelling because you were unaware of it and asked me to back it up with a link: “[c]ome on, help me out here. I am trying to understand where you are coming from.?”. Remember that?
Of course, you and I disagree on many points and issues. My main frustration with your comments is your many (but not all) wrong premises and many (but not all) weak arguments. Indeed, they are your opinions, not facts, yet you present them as absolutisms with an overzealous confidence and unwavering narrative of a dogmatic believer. As such, genuine debate with you is literally impossible. So, no, I utterly reject your notion that I “fundamentally disagree with [your] Left of Centre political outlook” [my italics]; I reject your piss-poor arguing.
You have never stated as such “that those on the Right (and especially those on the Far Right), of the political spectrum, are more likely to believe or at least don't oppose anti-vax conspiracy theory”. You declared them “the enemy, and they are winning”.
So, now you seem to be saying that they might not be the only enemy, which was exactly my point. I asked you where the “vivid antivaxxers before Covid” had gone. Your reply was an article arguing that “Nazi Hippies” and “Far Right Overlap”. What a load of codswallop! Your hypothesis seems to be that all Lefty antivaxxers have either died from preventable diseases because they refused to be vaccinated or moved across to the Dark Side to become Far Right, is that correct? In New Zealand? Not a single Lefty antivaxxer left? So shocking it is unbelievable that anyone would believe such a thing. BTW, being vaccine hesitant and being an antivaxxer are not the same thing.
The WP link was from before Covid-19; that was the whole point.
The Horizon link showed that whoever they are, antivaxxers are not “winning”, at least not here in NZ. Whether the Far Right is winning in NZ is a different question, but latest political polls seem to suggest this may also not be the case. BTW, I don’t consider the National Party as Far Right, but maybe you confuse them with another National Party from a different era in a different country (hint: they also have MMP), yes?
In short, your Far Right conspiracy theories are just that, especially in relation to Covid vaccination. Others see Reds under the bed or dancing Cossacks.
You argue that a united Parliament would depoliticise the vaccination issue. I think it is the opposite, it would politicise it. I linked to a paper that argued that “[o]ne strategy for increasing vaccination willingness is to politicize the issue of vaccination itself”. How you would do this and whether this has the desired effect is hypothetical. I have an issue with applying so much (peer) pressure that it becomes enforced; we have seen plenty examples in history on how well that can work out, which gives reason to ponder and thread carefully and cautiously in matters such as these, in my humble opinion.
I don’t have any right to ban you or censor you for your ill-considered views and I don’t want to. I can moderate you for unsubstantiated claims, but I’d rather not and prefer if you back them up, especially when asked. I cannot make you accept facts and information if you don’t want to, which clearly is the case with you, as you have demonstrated in your overly long epistle.
I don’t want to turn this website into an echo chamber only for views acceptable to me. I don’t want to and have no right at all to do so; I’d be booted off this site before lunch time and rightly so. That said, I did trash the comment you posted after your Magnum Opus of 1,625 words that had the lyrics and YouTube clip of the song Ordinary World by Duran Duran. I could never stand them, and they were totally overrated. Such a shite song by such a shite band. But that’s entirely subjective and you were under Moderation, so I did.
It is becoming clear that you won’t change your ways because you don’t think there’s anything wrong with them. So, what should I do? I’ll take you out of Pre-Moderation and will ask you to back up any unsubstantiated claims like other commenters and I do with any other commenter who does the same thing. If you or anybody else spread misinformation on an important topic you can expect to be pulled up on it by another commenter or by me. This is the way it works here and always has.
We have come full circle and I’m going to turn over the page and I don’t want to (have to) waste one more single word on this!
The choice is yours. [994 words, Jenny wins]
Jenny, you know how this goes. If you make moderators work too hard, they get fed up and ban people. Just acknowledge that you posted the 70% target but now know that it's not a formal target. Or, argue it out and get a ban. Personally, if I'd been moderating this I'd have given you a medium length ban a few days ago just to free up my time.
First rule of mod club, is don't piss off the mods, especially around using up our time. To that end, if you want to write 1000+ word replies to a moderation and general issues with a particular mod (currently sitting in the filter), I'd suggest writing a post instead about one of the things you feel passionate about. Consider the value in that vs an inevitable ban.
See my Moderation note @ 10:29 pm.
btw, sent you an email
https://www.rawstory.com/texas-has-seen-nearly-9000-19-deaths-since-february-all-but-43-were-unvaccinated-people/
Maybe we just start vaccinating those that have not gotten a jab at all first, and keep the borders closed to anyone but returning kiwis – who in some cases may have gotten vaccinations in the UK/US/Europe etc where they now currently live.
Never mind though, lets hope that the 20.000 kiwis on holiday in OZ come back without the virus, and lets hope that those that miss out on flights to come back home will not get sick while stuck over there.
Yes Sabine that 20,000 figure makes me shiver. We have done so well, and I fear are wallowing in self-gratification and enabling people who want to make a personal stand because they are too special to be attacked by a virus or a needle. I'm getting relaxed myself, though still use the hand wash where I go, but no-one else around me does. They view it as unnecessary and are relying on the government and Health Dept to do much.
But notice how much they are spending on full page advertisements in the media, and who stops to read every word. This is the lazy way of neolib government. I noticed this happening when they were making an effort to change practices in child rearing, stop smacking, better health. Preach from the top, lots spent on talking and publishing, but not get amongst the peeps helping them to fix problems, giving both information and demonstration and help close at hand on demand when needed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/23/us/covid-vaccine-boosters.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
If we are achieve levels of immunisation necessary to confer herd immunity to the general population, we will have to politically isolate our version of these right wing extremists. This will require a united front right across the mainstream political spectrum.
Taking personal responsibility is up to an individual when it comes to vaccination. Some people just do not give a hoot about anyone else's health and they do not value their own health.
Here on a domestic level describes what is happening at international level.
Now, NSW wants their own vaccination rollout to be sped up at the expenses of other safer states.
No-one would begrudge them this because their need is now greater (even if through fault of their own).
Now, will the unhinged RWNJs of New Zealand climb on board WA, NT Queensland, and Tasmania for their relatively poor vaccine rollout performance having given up stocks for those in greater need?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2021/07/coronavirus-nsw-begs-rest-of-australia-for-covid-19-vaccines.html
I always get a bit confused with the different states in OZ, but are the individual states responsible for their own vaccine purchases/ roll outs or is there an over arching government (for all of OZ) that handles that?
Example, Germany is a 'federation of states' that individually have their own governments, but the German Government is the one to purchase the vaccines and then distribute it to the individual states, who then with the allocated vaccines run their own roll out?
Oz sounds similar to Germany. Vaccine rollout is a federal (Coalition) responsibility, all other health decisions including Covid restrictions, lockdowns are state determined. Basically all states and territories, blue or red, have similar responses to Covid as NZ with the exception of NSW. The other key difference between Oz and NZ is that the federal government went with AstraZeneca, not Pfizer, as the main vaccine (AZ manufactured in Melbourne so a lot cheaper) and the hyped up scare stories about AZ side effects have meant a lot of vaccine hesitancy.
cheers for explaining that.
On Kim Hill this morning. About the debate for younger voting age 16 and up. Some points I noted – That voters choose from their beliefs and what will be best for them, countered by comment that isn't it supposed to be for what is best for the country.
And the statement that young people are being taught civics at school, and are therefore well-informed to make decisions.
And that schoolage is good for getting involved in voting and thinking about politics as the 18-24 age group get sidetracked into careers and places to live and starting out on life as young adults.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018805350/make-it-16-advocating-for-lower-voting-age-in-aotearoa
What do they get taught at school about civics, and building communities and how a country is supposed to run? Do all students learn this, ie is it compulsory or left up to the local school boards ? Probably USA style as have been other educational 'innovations' (so great a model for us to follow /sarc).
Perhaps we could invite someone with the knowledge and experience about civic education for school-age young adults, plus the ability to be objective, to write a guest post giving us the 'gen' on this?
Why is what kids they learn about civics at school important? Or anything else for that matter.
There are some who believe 5G towers disperse covid 19. There are some who believe the vaccine has microchips in it. There are some who believe the Coronavirus is a hoax. Some believe it's a big plot to take over the world.
So what did those people learn at school? They get to vote. What makes them getting to vote more valid than an "ordinary" 15 year? Simple miles on the clock?
What's that all about Pete. You are welcome to have a little rant about the topic. I still think that understanding the system that we live in, and the culture also, at school, will be beneficial for all. If parents don't know or ever talk about it, then the very basis of their adult lives may never be thought about, understood. Philosophies also should be discussed rather than setting the kids up for some religious stream which may not be one's preference, and be opposite to what a parent would say but often doesn't get round to it.
Is Simeon Brown being set up by his own team,
Over the years National policy towards law and order has proven to be a failure. Yet they still persist. At some point some journalists with clue in, and poor old Simeon is lost.
Is Judith playing the internal dirty politics long game, or am I just fantasising?
Nice piece from Aaron Bastani on how housing security transformed my mental health. In all the recent local discussions on mental health, so much of it has been about the nature and funding of mental health services. Virtually nothing has been about protecting mental health and preventing mental health crises through financial and housing security for everyone. Instead we argue about the disposition of ambulances at the bottom of the cliff; whether there are enough ambulances, who funded the most ambulances, and whether the ambulances are sufficiently tuned to the needs of Maori, etc.
It seems possible that by fixing the material and financial conditions of everday life, we will give mental health professionals the time and space to work with people whose mental health issues are truly endogenous/organic in origin – rather than triggered by an unlivable economic environment.
With news media enforcing payment or using of cookies maybe new ones that are easier to access are starting. I haven't found out much about News Logics. This is their About:
About us – Welcome to News Logics, We’re dedicated to giving you the news. Founded in 2017 by Frances Moody, News Logics has come a long way from its beginnings in the united state. When Frances Moody first started out, her passion for providing gripping content in the world of up to date, drove them to do tons of research so that News Logics can offer you the latest information, and small to big news We now serve reader all over the world and are thrilled that we’re able to turn our passion into our own website.
It refers to the united state – an oxymoron? Sounds as if it is run by a bot.
affordable houses
I have watched four 'dwellings' go up on a tiny section next – like right next to State Highway 5 in Rotorua go up. Curiosity killed to cat and today i went there and stopped for a look. Now they are small, ackward and if you look around you can see some nice and shoddy craftsmanship – but never mind, i thought, surely these are affordable? Right? Like big enough for a small family, or a couple. Yeah, nah nah,
they are 619.000 each. No extra charge for the noise pollution and traffic pollution, that is included in teh price, cause generous.
https://www.eves.co.nz/property/2-bedrooms-Riverholm-Drive-Rotorua-Central-Rotorua-ERT08604?fbclid=IwAR2KAuReqWlo8wcDA2W5oO4hgsY0Zr_WtEJyGQ_PwtpYo-PJvfh929wXMsU
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300364742/number-of-rejections-for-emergency-housing-tripled-in-2020
I no longer believe the minister's response, does the minister?
So…is she claiming supports have tripled in the last year. Yeah, right.
The alternative take on this is that emergency housing has a big neon "no vacancy" sign over it. There is not enough room so people are being turned away to presumably live on the street, if they are lucky in the shelter of a vehicle.
You’re free what and whom to believe. However, for the sake of balanced opinion, you might want to ask yourself what else has changed between 2019 and 2020. For example, how many more requests had been received. Of course, a one-sided view leads to one-sided thinking.
From your link:
vs.
Is your glass half-full or half-empty?
Sorry Incognito, the glasses are all empty.
Did you see my post? did you click on the link? Do you realise that this is a new build, 4 on a tiny section with two houses literally the width of a walkway from a motorway? did you see the cost? 619.000 per 'unit'. Rentable 'value' of 540 – 550 a week? The collective greed of this country and the collective failure of various governments to manage housing as a social good will come to bite us in our collective behinds sooner or later.
As for Mrs. Sepuloni, she is the Paula Benefit of the Labour Party. There is no real difference between the two.
And frankly, many many are getting really tired of these games of 'may have or may have not'. Because too many don't have anything at all.
So yeah, i pity anyone who believes a word coming from this women. She does as she is told to do.
I’m sorry, but I find this nonsense unpalatable. In essence, you do the same thing as always, which is shooting the messenger and your pet hates AKA targets, no matter what or when. Debating with people like you, with a closet mind, is therefore an exercise in futility and thus a waste of time.
I’m really not in the mood for your ignorant babble.
TTFN
You are a fierce defender of the Labour Party, Incognito, i give you this. 🙂
And i guess i am a ' virtue signaler' as you so politely called me some time ago, and i am very very happy about this compliment. I should thank you for it, cause I would find it worse to see what is going on in the country and never say anything and just pretend it does not exist in order to not ruffle a few feathers or for fear of rocking some boats.
As for my comments, i always try to be at the very least respectful enough to provide a link to support my thoughts. And if you had a look at the link above you know that this can't go on like this for much longer, because at some stage we just have to many people who are unhoused or despite working and a 20 NZD min wage can't afford to spend 540 – 550 for a 'dwelling'. And that is not good for anyone. Not you, not me, and not our communities.
[I don’t know why you decided to misrepresent me and/or ascribe an obviously incorrect motivation to me.
The rest of your comment was irrelevant and merely another opportunity for your virtue-signalling. I don’t do medals or damehoods, sorry.
I’m allergic to commenters misrepresenting other commenters here, to commenters spreading misinformation, to commenters shooting the messenger especially when it is another commenter, to commenters who divert and derail threads, to commenters who only want to push their own wheelbarrow and don’t want to listen to others, to commenters who twist things to suit their narrow narrative and to confirm their own bias, et cetera. You see that nothing in this list has anything to do with attacking one political party or defending another per se. It is nothing personal either, before to jump to that silly conclusion.
I’m especially sensitive to commenters who accuse Authors, Moderators, and/or this site of being a (paid) tool and/or ascribe ulterior motives. This is specifically mentioned in the site’s Policy in the list of self-martyrdom offenses. It is usually used to ‘justify’ and goes hand-in-hand with shooting the messenger, be it the Author, Moderator, and/or the site.
If you don’t like what you read here, provide a robust argument that addresses content, leave and go somewhere else, and/or start your own blog. In other words, you don’t have to put up with our shit and we don’t have to put with your shit, if we cannot agree to disagree.
When I get an allergic reaction I take appropriate medication. When I go into anaphylactic shock I have to take drastic action. Your comment is causing quite a severe reaction and I might have to go for the more heavy-duty treatment option. I already told you that I wasn’t in the mood but you’re not a very good listener or simply chose to ignore it. Please don’t make things worse, thanks – Incognito]
While dwellings have prestige and speculative value they will be unavailable to those for whom prestige and value lie elsewhere and who live shorter lives, suffer material hardship and do not vote.
See my Moderation note @ 7:19 pm.
3000 out of…?