Because that is not true but you feel it is. That’s the problem with fallacies, fake facts/factoids, urban myths, et cetera, they intuitively feel right and true but they aren’t.
Jimmy’s comment is worded in a sloppy way that shows sloppy thinking, IMO. It is factually incorrect and uses meaningless adjectives that show it is a largely emotive comment. Lastly, Jimmy’s comment extrapolated from one specific event to generalize.
where does diversity sit with you – in comments that is – as in people writing in a variety of styles and ways which may, or may not, get the message that they are trying to get across, across?
no dyslexics or other wise writing challenged people need to apply. Its one of these things that happen every now and then where comments get laughed out a room on grounds of grammar and comas or the lack there of, and i guess it is easier to do that then to comment on the merit of the post itself.
never mind that if the coppers would not have chased these dumbarse youngsters but rather try to apprehend them later the guys going to work at early morning hours would still be alive and / or healthy.
Except that whatever was the message jimmy was trying to get across, the message he actually delivered was a stepping stone to the senseless-sentencing crowd.
If it's always the "innocent law abiding" who get killed, then that gets tweaked into a callous disregard for others.
If everyone including the driver are in danger, it becomes a much more complex problem to determine why these situations happen. We start to consider brain development and the effects of panic and adrenaline, and then we start to wonder if there's a better way to intercept folk for traffic offences, or even whether interception is the safest option compared to other enforcement measures.
Yep, we need to get creative with a solution. Chasing inexperienced unlicensed drivers in often stolen cars is turning out crap too often.
If someone pinches my iphone I can log onto an app that will show me exactly where my iphone is. A flashing light on a Google map. Maybe it's time we put similar tech into cars and when warranted, allow the Police to watch a winking light on an in car Google map and pursue at 50 kph.
When people sing in the shower or having one-on-one conversation with themselves, they can express themselves any way they like. When they comment on this site, they should articulate their thoughts in a way that can be reasonably followed and understood by others IMO. I would like to think that this is the point of commenting here unless they’re a troll. As long as a few basic rules are followed, we can avoid Babylonian confusion of languages [plural, although it may all seem English]. In addition, say what you mean and mean what you say, i.e. be clear, be honest, and be genuine. The less we spend here parsing sentences, the more we can focus on the exchange and contest of ideas that may even lead to tangible actionable outcomes. How To Get There is an example of an attempt to transform clear well-understood comments into practice for the greater good. Otherwise, it would be just another ‘talk fest’, which still has its function but much less potential or real/direct impact.
I hope that answered your question in a roundabout way.
But drivers old and young break the law every day and people aren't dead afterwards Jimmy. There must be some other reason for this death. It is a puzzle isn't it.
Nothing generates utube hits like a "Police chase ends with petrol tanker exploding." headline.
There is rare fame to be found in running, martyrdom. We all love Vanishing Point, he died. To be realistic, the Hollywood runners need to die. Running from the Police is a plan that always ends in a worse situation.
Much better to pull over and declare "Hi, I'm Davo, the illegitimate son of the Sultan of Brunei."
If I could get the officer engaged in my folly, me, the pseudo offspring of the Sultan, it could generate enough utube hits to pay the fine…. and rent.
Utube would kick the concept to the kerb but a Patreon channel could find traction. What would happen if a crew of petty criminal burglars put cameras on their balaclavas and before going to air pixelled out incriminating footage? They could donate all proceeds, viewer hits and TV's pawned, to charity. Electronic Robin Hoods.
I think audiences would suck it up, a ride-a-long with burglars. I think it's an international money spinning winner. Unfortunately, I've got something else on the go at the moment….something legal.
It reminds me of a chap with whom I had a work-related tussle back in the day. When he failed to turn up for sentencing, the judge issued a warrant and the police didn't bother searching for him beyond minimal effort. Being a dropkick, he got arrested on something else stupid (fraud for riding something with a forged ticket, I think) a few months later, no other resources expended.
might as well just hack the car computer and throttle it down while keeping the steering and brakes. That sort of "minority report" stuff in 20 years.
Firing GPS tags or lojacks into vehicles is more problematic. Even if the electrics survive launch and impact, there are too many variables – getting it to fix an old heavy metal car vs not going through the bodywork of a plastic or coke-can car, accuracy requirements in a vehicular pursuit, if you hit an occupant (or it ricochets and hits a pedestrian) will if kill them, that sort of thing. And if they hear the thunk and you pull back, what's stopping them from knocking it off their car?
Besides, we're probasbly not too far off high-altitude, wide area ubiquitous surveillance anyway – "pursuit" gets managed from a control room monitoring maps and the feed from the Eye in the Sky.
To help the innocent people you will be right in behind banning police pursuits then eh Jimmy..?
Queensland has about 44,000 more people than New Zealand – yet it had 3197 fewer police pursuits in 2016.
New Zealand had 3323 pursuits that year, resulting in seven deaths, while Queensland had only 126 pursuits and no deaths.
Since 2009, no deaths have been officially attributed to pursuits in Queensland, whereas 22 deaths have been attributed to pursuits in New Zealand since 2014. Why is the difference so stark?
Completely different approach….here some old car with young people attracts attention so the cops put the lights on ..teeenage brains trigger the fight or flight response and away they go.
In QLD they have to be an existing danger to the public for there to be a full chase, otherwise they dont even do it
It just has to happen here , it must . Hopefully the chance will come when the Police chief retires , even if they have to bring someone in from Qld !
I don't know what the answer is Maui. I do not like the thought of police being unable to apprehend a person who has failed to stop when signaled if they are driving recklessly and likely to cause an accident anyway. I do think this has encouraged more (particularly young people) to run from police. Perhaps harsher penalties are needed for people that fail to stop for police, eg. jail time (simply banning them from driving has no effect as a lot of them already have no licence).
So after becoming some of the MOST informed within NZ on the Euthanasia Bill, hearing many representations on the matter, our MP's cannot make the decision. Leave it to a referendum by those who were not so privy to public and professional feedback.
Do they not realise that with the likes of health/housing decisions made in parliament do result in life and death situations.
Ok to be seen in a smile and wave photo opportunity or display concern – But to do something tangible ???
Parliament may make laws but the public at large has to support them or they can get repealed. Not so much a problem here , but the future slippery slope of increasing access to euthanasia as has occurred elsewhere can be prevented by the 'public only voted for terminally ill within 6 months'
With all due respect, that’s not much of an answer. You proposed giving the “public more choices” in the referendum but when prompted for detail, zilch, nada.
The 6-month floor for terminally ill makes sense to me. FWIW, I think it is an unhelpful restriction of the bill and influenced by scaremongering about ‘slippery slope’ and coercion.
You do realise this bill/referendum is about euthanasia, not suicide, don’t you?
The rest of your comment is a cop out and a fob off. Although you pretended @ 4.1.1 to have a considered opinion on giving the “people more choices” in the referendum, you articulated no meaningful alternative choices when asked. In a proper well-designed referendum the question or option(s) should not be leading (as in an opinion) but neutral and ideally allow everyone to provide a meaningful (as in clear and decisive) answer.
It is not compulsory to oblige to other commenters but I cannot stand pretentiousness, FYI.
Are you implying the question should people have the right to choose when they want to end it is a leading question? And if so, can you explain why you see it this way?
You remind me of the opening patsies in platonic dialogues, the ones who open with some "common sense" statement that is incredibly broad and Socrates proceeds to deconstruct.
Like the guy who said we should return people's property to them, and Socrates led him down a path where he ended up giving a homicidal maniac their sword back in the midst of an episode.
1: framing it as "right to choose" is leading, because we have a positive bias towards individual choice
2: surely if someone is temporarily depressed or drunk or in pain, we shouldn't kill them if they ask for it? We can't be sure their perspective or judgement hasn't been clouded by the alcohol, depression, or pain. And yet if they really want to die in that moment, your proposed question enables that
3: how many alternatives do you want? How would you interpret the results of the referendum if there are multiple different options for the same subject?
1: framing it as "right to choose" is leading, because we have a positive bias towards individual choice
But is it not a right to choose? Furthermore, people would have a right to choose to say no. So it could be seen either way, nullifiying your suggested bias.
2: surely if someone is temporarily depressed or drunk or in pain, we shouldn't kill them if they ask for it? We can't be sure their perspective or judgement hasn't been clouded by the alcohol, depression, or pain. And yet if they really want to die in that moment, your proposed question enables that
Of course there would have to be following questions to ascertain age and state of mind.
3: how many alternatives do you want? How would you interpret the results of the referendum if there are multiple different options for the same subject?
As for alternatives. I believe we should be given more than one. At least three. And they could be drafted such as this current one, allowing voters to choose (with a yes or no answer) which they preferred. Making it easy to interpret the result. With the draft with the most support becoming law.
From one perspective it is. From another perspective it's significantly more complicated than that. Hell, you even just threw in additional questions and factors in response to some pretty elementary what-ifs.
As for your preferred voting system, that just means that with five options almost evenly spread, the one that only a quarter of the country actually support gets selected. An ill-considered system to support a naive interpretation of the issue.
An equally correct-yet-inadequate question would be "do you think healthcare professionals should be allowed to kill their patients without fear of prosecution?"
You were talking about giving people more choices and all you could do is to repeatedely repeat is your opinion, which is singular. A referendum is or should be about the opinion of the people and asked (framed) in a neutral way.
As with Brexit, complex issues should not be reduced to simple binary questions, they should be debated, at length, and viewed from many possible angles. A simple flow chart might do for one person, e.g. you, but when dealing with a diverse pluralistic society it is not the way to make decisions, particularly not on ethical issues. That said, ethically complex issues should not be set in stone, e.g. by Law, because that leads to very dark places and lowers people’s ‘vigilance’ levels IMHO.
McFlock has already done a very good job on other problems with your thinking on this issue.
#BREAKING: Israeli @PresidentRuvi gives Blue and White Party leader @gantzbe Gantz the mandate to form a new government; The 1st time in 11 years that @netanyahu is not holding the mandate to form a government
Apparently, there is a construction overhaul in the works, but will that address the flaws (see link below) in the large number of defective buildings that have already been built?
Do DukeofUrl and The Chairman travel in tandem dispensing crumbs of wisdom to the peasants? Happened twice just above. When I see their offerings I tend to leave and have some lunch; better strengthening medicine for the brain.
And do I detect on the part of DoU a target to respond and squash every comment put up? Or it might be those that DoU find cheeky enough to think they might have an idea of their own to put forward for consideration.
Oh dear …its very own 'designer socialist' sashsaying down the catwalk again… its all on trend politics…never wants to be accountable …its for show cant you see…for the masses to adore and praise every flourish as if it was of great wisdom.
Instead we get cheap and tacky version of fast fashion politics and opinion
Before you get your hand smacked for not providing a link, cleangreen (tut, tut, tut), here is the link to the Parliament website page on the RMA Amendment Bill which includes the link for making submissions:
Here is our first submission sent yesterday.
23rd October 2019.
start
Submission to the Resource Management Amendment Bill
Select committee.
Dear Madam’s/Sirs’ on the Select Committee considering the ‘Resource Management Amendment Bill’.
CEAC wish to make verbal submissions and written submissions.
This is to support the restoration of the RMA to the original higher standards we had enjoyed and found for the protection of our ‘Built and Natural’ Environment from 1991when the RMA was first produced for our community environmental protection.
Resource Management Amendment Bill must be reinforced and enshrined in the strong focus of the ‘health and wellbeing’ of all citizens.
CEAC history with use of RMA;
We have been working with PCE and Governments since 2001, on all environmental community concerns using the RMA and have seen a destruction of the environmental protection of the RMA after several corrosive repeals were made to weaken the protection given us since 1991 when the Resource Management Act 1991 was produced.
So we are very active in restoring all the strong processes in the RMA to protect our environment for the wellbeing and health of the public.
For example; Under part two of the RMA ‘The Honourable Nick Smith’ as Environment Minister removed most of section 31 Quote; “(Repeal section 31(1)(b)(ii))”
We need to restore all parts of section 31 section 31(1)(b)(ii)) and Part two of 7 – (other matters) (see below 1991.) territorial functions under the RMA.
We strongly request reinstatement of these amendments to the Act in this Parliament term.
I wish to verbally discuss this issue using a report we assisted the PCE to produce when working alongside the staff of the PCE in 2005 in HB.
The matter was regarding heavy transport road traffic noise and air pollution in our urban communities, in which the PCE used the RMA, to relay the importance of using the RMA to protect the urban community “Amenity values and well- being” using both RMA sections 7c and 31.
At that time and gradually since then in 2015 MP Nick Smith culled and gutted those two important sections of the RMA that protected the health and well-being of our communities, leaving us very badly exposed to environmental harm.
I give you the PCE website location of that PCE report we referred to below.
Please note page eight was the reference where the PCE used the RMA specifically.
Page 8 PCE report 3 The New Zealand context 3.1 Noise and urban amenity values
“Section 7c of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) states that the relevant agencies shall have particular regard to “the maintenance and enhancement of amenity values”. Section 31 states that one of the functions of territorial authorities is “the control of the emission of noise and the mitigation of the effects of noise”. Amenity values are defined as “those natural or physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people’s appreciation of its pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, and cultural and recreational attributes”.
Thank you for the opportunity to engage with the Select Committee on this important amendment process to the RMA.
We are happy to provide any supplemental documentation when/if required.
Land Information Minister and Green MP Eugenie Sage has given a foreign-owned forestry company a free pass to buy thousands of hectares of New Zealand land without applying to the Overseas Investment Office (OIO).
Japanese-owned Pan Pac Forest Products was given the special approval to bypass the OIO to purchase land for forestry for the next three years as the government sought foreign forestry money to help meet its tree planting targets.
The pre-approval was given to Pan Pac despite the Green Party having strongly protested land sales to foreigners and Forestry Minister Shane Jones saying he was sympathetic to rural concerns that converting productive farm land to forestry could cost jobs.
You asked why it might be considered a good idea by the Greens.
A billion trees is Green policy. You're worried that Greens will be upset at their policy being implemented… thanks for your concern.
This isn't the sale of logging rights or the export of raw logs or woodchips. This is a foreign investment to add value to the property. Where exactly is the policy problem – feel free to link to actual policies you think are applicable.
The billion trees policy was/is being implemented long before this announcement.
And while this is one way (but far from the only way) to help achieve it, it goes against their stance on foreign ownership of land. Hence, it is highly likely to disappoint a number of supporters.
As it seems you are unsure of their stance, here (below) is what it says on their site.
Ownership of land in Aotearoa/ New Zealand is a privilege that should be for citizens and permanent residents only.
The trees will be harvested at some stage. And while value may be added, as with most investments, the offshore owners will be seeking a return on their investment. Eventually, those returns (if all goes well) will most likely be far larger than the sum invested. As tends to be one of the objectives of investing.
Moreover, it is also highly likely they will receive funding from taxpayers/Government's Provincial Growth Fund.
If we want to continue to ensure we become tenant's and workers (not owners) in our own country this is the way to go in helping to achieve that.
So while you (and others) may only seem to see the trees and are comfortable with that, there is far more to it for us that see that larger picture.
It does, however, meet the sustainability criteria in the same policy.
So a number of Green supporters will see it assisting in the achievement of a key policy, conforming to part of another key policy, but sadly being against another part of that policy (albeit not an ergregious violation, like a billionaire bunker mansion fencing off public walkways).
But then "a number" of supporters of every party are constantly disappointed by everything. Any idea whay this particular number might be? Thanks for your concern.
Interesting – the massively rising values hiding a lowering of proportion was intriguing.
For me, capital value is less important than land area or propoertion of dwellings. Value is ethereal, things are what we actually eat or use.
But I’m not sure a measurable number of Green supporters are losing sleep over this particular deal.
Maybe fonterra should diversify into forestry? lol
I am afraid that I think the word tragedy is called for when there has been loss of life, not property. But I guess I have different values than John Key.
And my sympathy to I think it is three fire fighters injured fighting this blaze and my thoughts go out to them for a speedy recovery.
Yup pretty typical JK legacy: Here's a bucket of taxpayer money and some concessions to expand your gaming empire beyond it's current level of social harm.
I thought it was the "Ekshully, I think you'll find that most Nu Zillanders don't care about (insert something New Zealanders care about deeply here)…" room.
Or was it the "Look, I don't recall the exact details…" room?
Or perhaps the "I WILL get your husbands and sons out of Pike River Mine… except not really." room?
Belgian Paralympic champion Marieke Vervoort ended her life through euthanasia at the age of 40 on Tuesday, Belgian media reported.
….Vervoort suffered a degenerative muscle disease that caused constant pain, paralysis in her legs and left her barely able to sleep, and gradually her life became torture.
By then her eyesight had deteriorated and she suffered from epileptic attacks, and she said that Rio would be her last competition.
“After the Paralympic Games, when I quit, I’m going to enjoy every little moment in my life and I’m going to put more energy in my family and friends, which I couldn’t do with top sports because I had to train every day,” she said in 2016………………….
Vervoort signed the paperwork to be euthanised back in 2008.
She said in Rio that access to legal assisted dying had given her the courage to continue living for as long as she had, and insisted the practice should not be characterised as “murder”.
“It gives a feeling of rest to people,” she said then.
“If I hadn’t gotten those (euthanasia) papers I think I would already have committed suicide because it’s very hard to live with so much pain and suffering and this unsureness.
“I know when it’s enough for me, I have those papers.”
Lats night I listened to Marieke talking about her future. Deeply sad and brought a tear to my eye but oh what a woman.
Rest easy, Marieke.
Fight to the finish – Marieke Vervoort
The story of Belgium's para-athlete Marieke Vervoort who made headlines at the Rio games after revealing she had signed papers to end her life via euthanasia.
Indeed, and when a person with an obvious physical disability is stood over in A and E by a doctor with a Do Not Resuscitate form (after an admittedly alarming but upon investigation a simple episode of syncope) one is forced to realize (yet again) that while there are those in the medical professions holding such prejudices disabled people will be at extreme risk should this legislation be passed.
History says that this is a very real concern and for those in the know there are strong fears about this. I agree with them.
There are fears a six month trial of police patrol vehicles carrying armed officers will see Maori being targeted more than any other group. Police Commissioner Mike Bush announced last week armed response teams will start patrolling Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury at the end of the month. But many Maori, including the whanau of a man fatally wounded by police in 2000, aren't convinced it will make their lives any safer.
Yep, the guy does some good work. Shame about his employer – it's a hard row to hoe earning a crust in NZ these days as someone genuinely committed to the principles of the 4th Estate
yeah …like some mayor decades back , who bought the council owned land in front of his clifftop property. It was done in 2 transactions, the first piece was the access way which left the 2nd piece without access making it almost worthless for the council, but made the Mayors land bigger which allowed a larger building etc
Yep @ Dook. There are endless examples dating back from the days when the Town Clerk was in fashion and Mayor Robbie had a dream.
Leave 'em to it all I reckon. Once they stumble over each other's stupidity, something might come of it.
But what I'm sure of is that the mathematics of a 90+% versus the rest doesn't really bode all that well (going forward, in the fullness of time, in this ecosystem)
Rortneys and Keys supershity at it's finest, it's rumoured a certain car dealer ex mayor has done similar in a city not too far from akl.
They say it's why their turnout was higher than expected as the locals wanted rid of him. His personal billboard campaign to not give to beggars was a lowpoint for many.
Towers and towers of highly paid chair polishers and the Auckland Council orchestrate movements like this bribe stinking fiasco. I wasn't aware there were 2 factions of equal size within the Aux council. Sounds like a recipe for most of their energy to get burnt up in friction heat.
How hard can it be to approach every proposal with a primary overview 'What's best for the people of Auckland?' Changing the Westpark Marina name, flogging it off for a lousy 2 million (land cost for the developer of $8000 per dwelling) and building towers of apartments to block the hillside home owners' views…it would've been in the waste paper bin by smoko.
“The Government has buckled to lobbying pressure from the dairy industry and big agri-business,” says Greenpeace campaigner, Gen Toop.
“Agriculture is our biggest climate polluter. An emissions trading scheme without the sector in it is a joke and won’t be able to combat the climate emergency – the greatest threat humanity has ever faced.”
“The Government is protecting the short term profits of a few in the dairy and agricultural sector at the expense of the rest of us and the future of our entire planet.”
The Labour party policy was to bring agriculture into the ETS in this electoral term. This was reiterated in their coalition agreement with New Zealand First, where they committed to only pricing 5% of agriculture’s emissions, effectively giving the sector a 95% subsidy.
Toop says, “It is unjust that this Government is allowing the dairy and agriculture industry to carry on with business as usual. The climate science is clear, this is not business as usual.”
Yes, the broad church verandahs had to be extended out to accommodate Winston's mob. A coalition of views so broad was always going to make pushing change through difficult. The surprise choice was to extend the verandahs, introduce the Winston factor in amongst the policy promises or spend another 3 years out in the cold.
hello …MMP was designed to make any political changes having a broad support rather than just a bare majority of a main party. Thats how the Rogernomics were pushed through…..
You wouldnt want to the equivalent of rogernomes but 30 yrs later with policies based on 'we must do this or else'
I've stuck my foot in my mouth up to the knee on a couple of occasions. Some of us have to learn not to ask a woman if she is pregnant the hard way. Richardson's apology appears heart felt. I think he is a cheeky rightie, not the devil….I'd rather sale a 10m yacht to Fiji with him over Bomber.
I think that we can be proud that we live in a time when the vast majority of us will judge Ryan purely on his ability to host a breakfast TV show and I think he is making a fine job of it…Take another week Dunc.
Shame Mediaworks is looking so wobbly, the short-term big picture ain't grand for any of them.
Agreed Kevin, Mark Richardson is a proper plonker alright.
He thinks he is a ‘gift to humanity’ when he goes on the other hand to rubbish everyone he wants without a care.
He is a shallow man for sure.
Ryan Bridge is a kind caring good ‘anchor’ for channel three’s ‘AM show’ and Mark Richardson is a conceited idiot, and I hope and pray that he is not the son of a good ZB radio NZ man we had with the same Richardson sirname?.
I used to know ‘Keith Richardson’ when he was on 2Zb in Napier.
aww come on it's just 'banter' isn't it and whatever gets clicks/chats etc is good for Brand Richo and his sports jock/priviledged white male shtick routine.
While I don't disagree with your assessment of Mark Richardson, but seeing that clip I think it was an easy mistake and his apology seemed genuine. My question is for Ryan Bridge, in this day and age, while (in your own words) all your friends and family know, why make it an issue on air, why not just carry on and laugh about the ex-boyfriends and move on. Surely no media personality needs a "Yep I'm Gay" outing these days. I suspect his closet must be deeper than he says or he's trying to make himself relevant on an irrelevant program and channel.
Auckland turning both brass into muck, and the emergent environmental disaster.
Millions of litres of water used to extinguish the fire has resulted in several basement layers being flooded to the point where cars are completely covered in the lowest level.
Twomey wasn’t sure how many cars were affected but they would be “write offs” he assumed.Fire appliances on site do not have the pumps required to pump the water, so Fletchers is organising to get some from the Ports of Auckland.Auckland Council will decide where will be a safe place to dump the water, Twomey said.
Fire fighting has environmental consequences.
It has been stated that “Every fire represents some threat to the environment” (CFPA,1990). International studies suggest that chemical contamination of the environment from fire-fighting activities presents a serious hazard to aquatic ecosystems in certain situations. Locally, this is also of concern to the New Zealand Fire Service as well as Regional and District Councils, who have a responsibility to protect the environment from adverse effects. However, uncertainty lies in that little is known about the nature or magnitude of ecological risks from fires and fire-water runoff generally, apart from a number of case reports from internationally occurring ecological catastrophes.
Paralympian Marieke Vervoort fulfills wish to take own life
..Vervoort, who was 40, won gold and silver medals in wheelchair racing at the 2012 London Paralympics, and two more medals three years ago in Rio de Janeiro….
"It's too hard for my body," Vervoort said in the 2016 interview. "Each training I'm suffering because of pain. Every race I train hard. Training and riding and doing competition are medicine for me. I push so hard — to push literally all my fear and everything away."
Vervoort spent her last evening with close friends and family, even sharing a glass of sparkling wine, which she referred to as a painkiller….
Many would genuinely hope that her pain and suffering had not been further exasperated by any external psychological torment associated with fire and brimstone or hell damnation words that so many have had to suffer. Such words so often associated with an individual's assertion that the decision to end their mortal life is made on reasoned, rational grounds, but where, due to the stated beliefs of others, they are accused of serious sinning, or worse that they are under the influence of some unholy being.
Axiomatic that many (perhaps most) who make such a decision are not making it on the basis of being unappreciative of life opportunity itself, nor ungrateful to others who may have provided them care or support throughout their lives.
These are core pain management (physical and psychological), self value and life purpose deliberations, and many would assert that they are not meant to relate to various religious edicts.
Our bodies are under the control of the religions which in turn say that they are speaking for God, which is idolatrous of them. And if a person desires to be with God, then the appropriate thing would be to talk it over seriously with them, posing possible improvements in their life and asking if they were done, would they then wish to remain and enjoy their life.
There would be some time to consider, a day or week depending on the painfulness of the illness or the lack of bodily control, and if the person still wishes to continue then a religious person can take the position that they wish to be with their Creator, their God, or in a state of peace, and accept and dignify the process as wished by both parties.
As I suggest above there is no reason for officious religious persons to come between a living body's will.
And those counsellors attached to religions working in any palliative role talking it through this way with the dying should be commended.
But it is the mind control freaks from religious organisations expressing and insisting on the eternal damnation dogma angle that cause so much anguish and emotional distress for those in such a seriously compromised and already weakened condition that people need to identify, and avoid if they can.
Karol121 I have noticed people against euthanasia quoting how seriously ill people have expressed to them that they would like to die, but they always change their minds after being talked with for a while. Of course they do. It's too hard to go against the determined antis especially if they may have their feelings hurt or become angry, and then perhaps make the care they give a little less comforting. To some carers or family, it would be like a slap in the face. They have a plan for looking after you and you are ungrateful or irreligious, ie it is all about them, or they know what God wants and expects.
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I wrote earlier in the week about the Scientology front organisations Drug Free World and Drug Free Ambassadors and their quite prominent role in anti-cannabis reform "coalition" assembled by Family First and a newloca branch of the American prohibitionist organisation SAM.It turns out Family First aren't the only ones helping ...
Nik GreenMuch of the public debate about the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has focused on the extent to which government regulations have restricted personal and business activity.Oxford University Blavatnik School of Government Here in New Zealand, the question of when to change Alert Levels dominated the ...
Raising The Bar: Would that the Prime Minister and her colleagues would listen as intently to what the people – as opposed to the power elites – are saying as the Greens. Were they so disposed, the popular clamour for a transformational post-Covid reset would be loud in their ears. ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzDo you think the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown will slow or ...
A bit like a letter home. I have now been full-time at the University of Melbourne since 2019. Before that, I was 20 years at the University of Otago, Wellington. Indeed, I set up this very Public Health Expert Blog with Nick Wilson ten years ago. Now I am your ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections House Democrats have released a comprehensive report showing how – if they control the White House and both the Senate and the House of Representatives – they might move forward on climate change. Their “Climate Crisis Action Plan,” released June 30 by the ...
Not Ready: Todd Muller’s lack-lustre and self-contradictory performances offer conclusive proof that a political leader cannot be managed into competence. National’s new boss has Janet Wilson handling his media and Matthew Hooton writing his speeches. Both are highly professional political and public relations specialists, and Muller is lucky to have ...
Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency, I have landed in hospital so am not able to do a current update on the NZ blog statistics. Let’s hope I can get back to this in good time. ...
It started as a family story, about a step-father who went out one night to break into an embassy in Wadestown, Wellington. John Daniell wanted to understand what his family had been part of when his mother and then step-father work for New Zealand’s Security Intelligence. He wanted to know ...
The Greens have shaken up the election campaign with the announcement of their radical poverty and action plan to reform welfare provision and introduce a new wealth tax for millionaires. It’s a big-thinking, controversial policy and has generated a lot of disagreement over how radical it is, whether it could ...
My house is currently supplied electricity by Meridian. As soon as I can change I will because Meridian spilled water to hike electricity prices. They got consumers to spend an extra $80 million on power unnecessarily. Clever them. The Electricity Authority has called their behaviour an “undesirable trading situation”, or ...
When Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly became the Labour Party leader shortly before the 2017 general election, she promised to lead a government of transformation. After nearly three years occupying the Treasury benches, health professionals working in public hospitals have been keenly waiting for transformational progress, including in the capacity and quality ...
Last night, One News ran a follow-up story to its Colmar Brunton poll results on the cannabis referendum, headed here as Government accuses big American anti-cannabis group of interfering in NZ politics.In truth it wasn't just the government: Justice minister Andrew Little, National's Shane Reti and the Greens' Chloe Swarbrick ...
When the government refused to put cameras on fishing boats to ensure fishers obeyed the law, Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash claimed that coalition partner NZ First (which has received large donations from the fishing industry) was not responsible for the decision. He has repeated that claim repeatedly since then. But ...
Heroic Evasions: Labour needs to be unequivocal in its communications with the electorate. Either it has a plan to prevent their fellow New Zealanders from falling off the economic cliff, or it doesn’t. Either it has a fiscal policy equal to the task of funding that plan, or it hasn’t. ...
Prof John Potter*Elimination has been an effective strategy for New Zealand in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic virus (SARS-CoV-2). Most other countries have not pursued this goal and are ignoring the opportunity even now. SARS-CoV-2 is not manageable by the influenza playbook; its longer incubation period makes tracing ...
This is a re-post from Weather Underground by Bob HensonAbove: This rainbow appears unusually low in the sky because it has formed early in the afternoon, rather than toward sunset. For a rainbow to form, water droplets must be present in the air in front of an observer ...
On Monday, Todd Muller gave an important speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, He spoke firmly about his belief in the need for foreign investment, for the public sector to partner with the private sector rather than boss it around and, crucially, demanded the government deliver a clear strategy ...
Todd Muller's first act on become party leader was to appoint an all-white front bench. This understandably raised eyebrows, so he is now apparently reconsidering caucus and list rankings. Which is obviously necessary, but there's still the underlying problem: National doesn't have a lot of Māori MP's. And the reason ...
Meridian energy has been caught manipulating the electricity market for fun and profit: Meridian Energy pushed up power prices by unnecessary spilling water from its south dams in December that could have been used for generation, the Electricity Authority has ruled in a preliminary decision. The authority said the ...
When the Christchurch murderer pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder and a number of other violent assault charges a few months ago, he effectively closed the door on what the public will know about the lead up to and commission of the event. His plea means that no evidence ...
Daphna Whitmore The Philippines is enduring one of the longest lockdowns in the world. For President Duterte the lockdown provides an opportunity to garner more powers and to push through a brazen assault on human rights. A new law called the Anti-Terror Bill has been passed under urgency and it ...
Hearing the Prime Minister castigate the Warehouse for laying off 1,000 workers after receiving $52 million in wage subsidies reminds me of the fabled frog who agreed to carry a scorpion across a river. The scorpion stings the frog halfway across, dooming both to drown. The frog cries “Why on ...
Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Prof Michael BakerCompared with other OECD countries NZ is a stand-out success story by ending community transmission of COVID-19. While there have been some well-publicised recent deficiencies (eg, quarantine organisation), there has still been no evidence of community transmission for many weeks. Nevertheless, ...
It’s June 30th, marked as Asteroid Day by many people of an astronomical bent around the globe. On this date in 1908, early in the morning in a remote part of central Siberia, the sky fell in. Well, not literally. What happened is a substantially-sized lump of cosmic detritus ...
There really is not much about Paula Bennett concerning her career trajectory, the policies she promoted, and most importantly, the socio-economic effect this had upon New Zealand (and particularly the most vulnerable in this, our oft-cited “egalitarian” society of this country) that can be said now that hasn’t already been ...
Don Franks Poverty, inequality – really – aren’t politicians paid to sort that stuff ? Why can’t they just get it together and come up with something fair and sensible? A cold rainy 2020 morning, a headline showed promise. “Green Party’s $8b plan would guarantee an income of $325 a ...
A guest repost by Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) staff attorney Augusta Wilson. Fundraising is not the objective of this article but readers may wish to know that CSLDF is currently conducting a summer fundraiser to support defense of research scientists and research integrity from anti-science interference by politicians and industrial interests. The COVID-19 pandemic ...
Helloy… My name is Todd Muller and I am the leader of the National Party of New Zealand. Many people come up to me on the street and ask me who I am. I’m often walking through Tauranga, or in a mall in suburban Auckland, or maybe even a farmers’ ...
The US state of Mississippi has finally voted to remove the Confederate emblem from its state flag. Good. Its appalling that it was put there in the first place, but even more appalling that it took so long to remove it. Its basicly as if a German Länder still had ...
No one could have predicted when David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill was passed by Parliament last November that the referendum required to bring the legislation into force would be held against the backdrop of a deadly global pandemic. Since then, the mounting tally of casualties around the world ...
Paul GoldsmithYou can often tell just how effective a progressive policy proposal will be by how much the right wing criticise it. The more socially beneficial, the more vitriolic and unhinged they seem to become.That was the case when the Green Party announced their Poverty Action Plan yesterday. The response ...
Back at the beginning of April, when we had much else on our minds, I wrote this post urging some caution in interpreting the results of the latest Horizon poll, conducted in February, on voting intentions in this year's cannabis referendum, which was paid for by Helius Therapeutics.I wrote that ...
Over the weekend the Greens made their first election policy announcement, and promised transformational change: a more progressive tax system, with new rates applying to incomes of $100,000 and $150,000; a new wealth tax on net wealth over $1 million; and a guaranteed minimum income to eliminate poverty. Its bold, ...
Story of the Week... El Niño/La Niña Update... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Global Warming Is Melting Our Sense of Time Satellite image of smoke from active fires burning near the ...
. . Plague town? There are two things right now in Aotearoa New Zealand that are guaranteed to piss people off. Firstly, it’s National playing silly-bugger politics with the covid-19 pandemic. This cost Simon Bridges his job as National’s Leader. Lately, Michael Woodhouse has been playing fast and loose with ...
Tertiary fees in New Zealand versus Australia: Fees Are Important, but not as Important as Financing In Australia, the Education Minister Dan Tehan has proposed an overhaul of the existing higher education funding system to offer 39,000 additional study places by 2023 and 100,000 by 2030. The proposal has been ...
The latest opinion poll forecasts a landslide win by Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party, but when taken alongside other polling, it illustrates New Zealand politics remains volatile and the contest is still very open. According to the Colmar Brunton poll published by TVNZ last night, Labour would easily romp back ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 21 through Sat, June 27, 2020Editor's ChoiceFacebook creates fact-checking exemption for climate deniers Facebook is "aiding and abetting the spread of climate misinformation,” said Robert Brulle, an ...
The images and reports delivered to us by the world’s media leave us in no doubt that the rest of the world is still in the grip of a coronavirus pandemic that shows no signs of slackening, but is actually uncontrolled and picking up pace in many countries; and even ...
Minister of Health - David ClarkIf you follow politics at all in New Zealand, David Clark is likely a name you’re a bit familiar with. The current Minister of Health is perhaps the most disliked Member of Parliament at the moment, which amongst very stiff competition is really saying something. ...
SUNDAY JUNE 28Beat the Chasers (TVNZ 1, 8.30pm). Judging by the tweets, which is probably a bad idea, over lockdown, all of New Zealand found itself in front of The Chase every night at 5pm. It is a brilliant fomat: hardly anyone wins any money ...
SATURDAY JUNE 27Banksy and the Rise of Outlaw Art (Sky Arts, Sky 017, 8.00pm). There was graffiti before Banksy, but perhaps his pungent political messages hit home a bit harder. Anyways, a doco about his influence on street art featuring a bunch of cool people.SUNDAY JUNE 28Beat the Chasers (TVNZ 1, ...
We have been assailed by Fox News-style headlines, lurid stories of “a breach!”. An almost nuclear level disaster on the horizon scream, “Fiasco!” here, “Hero to Zero!” there… Oh quick, panic everyone!This has fueled an unbelievably stupid environment of panic among some, and spurred useless, counterproductive political ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters A massive dust storm formed over the Sahara Desert last week and invaded the Caribbean over the June 20-21 weekend, bringing dangerous levels of air pollution and low visibility to the islands. The dust is accompanied by a large amount ...
Will the Covid Crisis lead to a dramatic redirection for New Zealand and the World? A hinge in history occurs where the past and present are connected but they point in different directions. Big hinges are rare but crucial in the development of humankind. Not in Narrow Seas identifies six. ...
RNZ reports that Refining NZ is considering shutting down Marsden Point and effectively turning itself into a fuel distribution service. The problem they're immediately trying to address is that running a refinery is expensive, and it is cheaper just to import processed fuel. But there's a longer-term problem too: climate ...
We all know that the COVID-19 virus is a terrible infectious disease that has already caused untold misery and numerous deaths around the world. Nearly half a million people have already died, and those are just the cases we know about.But how bad could things actually get exactly?Today, the NZ ...
This essay by Alex Hochuli examines the global phenomena of BLM protests . He is a freelance writer and research consultant based in São Paulo, Brazil. He is the co-host of the global politics podcast, Aufhebunga Bunga, and co-author of the forthcoming Politics at the End of the End of History (Zero ...
Are You Still Here? Just like his colleague, Phil Twyford – of KiwiBuild fame – David Clark juts out his chin and shamelessly apportions blame to everybody but himself. Even worse, he has turned viciously on Ashley Bloomfield, the nearest approximation to a competent, decent, humble and accountable public servant ...
. . 20 June The bad news: Aotearoa New Zealand has two new cases of covid-19. The good news: the two cases were picked up at an Auckland quarantine facility. The terrifying news: had the story of the two women leaving quarantine without testing not broken four days ...
Willing Victims: What would all those Americans in MAGA hats be left with if they abandoned Trump? Just the sick feeling of having been cheated. Just the knowledge that the man in the White House is nothing more than a shape-shifting New York grifter; and that they have always been ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Like an earthquake rumbling down the San Andreas Fault, Jeff Gibbs’ and Michael Moore’s controversial film “Planet of the Humans” tore a rift through the environmental movement, a rift its leaders would not yearn for in an election year. After activists have spent ...
There have been a number of articles written about the voting in the final statges of the Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill, during which National MPs voted alongside the Green Party to force a change that would prevent the removal of sentenced prisoners from the Electoral Roll. You can ...
Last night should have been a cause for muted celebration in Parliament. The Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Bill’s final passage through the House partially erases a stain on New Zealand’s democratic system. It’s a drum I’ve been beatingfor thepast decade, but denying all sentenced prisoners the right to vote is a ...
Jordan WilliamsIt’s pretty obvious to all and sundry that the Taxpayers Union, run by Jordan Williams, isn’t really a union at all. Instead it’s a small lobby group for privileged white folk, namely the old fools behind the scenes of the corrupt and largely defunct Act Party.With an incorrectly attributed ...
Last year, I highlighted a secrecy problem with the government's Infrastructure Funding and Financing Bill. The Bill would establish a new class of public entity, "special purpose vehicles", to hide debt from local government balance sheets fund infrastructure such as roads and sewers in "high-growth" councils. The SPVs would collect ...
Both the leader of the opposition Todd Muller and University of Auckland Professor Des Gorman have gone on the record as saying they suspect Covid-19 is spreading in the community in New Zealand once again. Let me explain why I don’t agree with them. As best I can tell there ...
By Geoffrey Miller A former MP and Associate Minister of Defence says that New Zealand’s Covid-19 border and quarantine issues illustrate why a new dedicated national security agency is needed. Heather Roy, a former deputy leader of the Act Party who held the associate defence portfolio from 2008-10, told the ...
Annual fishing report It's been about a year since we swapped out the Research News deckhand. It seems longer— particularly the past 4 months— and not because of this particular work. Over the course of the year somewhere in the neighborhood of 17,500 articles have been caught in our net, ...
New Zealanders deserve healthy rivers and lakes that are safe to swim in - but they have been getting worse for decades. That's why, with our latest announcement, we're investing in projects that will help clean up our rivers and lakes and restore them to health, within a generation. ...
This week we moved into the second half of 2020 - and our Government delivered another week of big changes and major progress for New Zealanders. Read below for a wrap of the key things moments from the week - from extending paid parental leave, to making major investments in ...
The Green Party has opposed the COVID-19 Recovery Fast-track Consenting Bill which shortcuts normal consenting processes under the Resource Management Act (RMA), reduces public participation and narrows environmental considerations. ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister of Regional Economic Development A regional freight hub for the lower North Island will be built just northeast of Palmerston North, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The Government is investing $40 million through the Provincial Growth Fund to designate and buy land and design ...
Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson is calling for the introduction of a Guaranteed Minimum Income to lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty and prevent more families entering into further debt with the Ministry of Social Development. ...
There has been renewed focus on New Zealand First acting as a handbrake on the Government after our decision to not support Auckland light rail. We are a handbrake for bad ideas, that istrue, but our track record since 2017 has seen New Zealand First constructively also serve as an ...
Mark Patterson MP, New Zealand First List MP New Zealand First’s Fair Residency for Superannuation Bill passed its First Reading in Parliament today. The Bill makes a significant change to NZ Super by raising the minimum residency requirement from 10 to 20 years, after age 20. “Currently, a migrant of ...
Darroch Ball MP, Spokesperson for Law and Order A New Zealand First member’s bill in the name of Darroch Ball introducing a six-month minimum prison sentence for assaults on first responders has passed its second reading in Parliament. The new offence of "injuring a first responder or corrections officer with ...
Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First welcomes the launch of the new Criminal Cases Review Commission, gifted with the name from Waikato-Tainui - Te Kāhui Tātari Ture, announced in Hamilton today by Justice Minister Andrew Little. “New Zealand First has long believed in and ...
The Green Party is celebrating over $800m in new funding for green projects, which will get people into jobs while solving New Zealand’s long-term challenges. ...
Mark Patterson MP, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First is appalled that Meridian seems to have been unnecessarily spilling water from its dams to drive up its profits."While New Zealanders have been coming together in some of our darkest hours, we don’t expect power gentailers to waste water and ...
We wrapped up the first half of 2020 with a busy month, taking additional steps to support New Zealanders as we continue with our economic recovery. We rolled out targeted packages to support key industries like tourism and construction, helped create jobs in the environmental and agriculture sectors, and set ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Infrastructure Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has welcomed the appointment of Maurice Davis and his deep infrastructure and construction experience to the board of the Infrastructure Commission. Mr Davis (Ngāti Maniapoto), is the seventh and final appointment to the board led by former Reserve Bank Governor ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand’s click bait journalism is taking a turn for the worse, with yet another example of sensationalist, wilful-misrepresentation of the facts. “New Zealand First has worked constructively with its Coalition partner on hundreds of pieces of legislation and policy, and ...
The Green Party is today unveiling its Poverty Action Plan, which includes a Guaranteed Minimum Income to ensure people have enough to live with dignity. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Rotorua Museum redevelopment and Whakarewarewa and Tokorangi Forest projects will be accelerated thanks to a $2.09 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) boost, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher ...
This week, we rolled out the next steps of our recovery plan, with new infrastructure investment, extra support for tourism operators, and a new programme to get Kiwis into agriculture careers. The global economic consequences of COVID-19 will continue to be a challenge, but we have a detailed plan to ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First welcomes the passage of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its final reading in Parliament today fulfilling a coalition agreement commitment. “This is an important step in saving the lives of New Zealanders and delivers a key coalition commitment ...
Whakatāne has been given a $2.5 million boost to speed up previously funded projects and create more than 450 jobs in the next decade. Of those, the equivalent of 160 full-time jobs could be delivered in the next six weeks. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is in town to make ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $2.5 million to accelerate three infrastructure projects in Whakatāne, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “This package is about ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones is throwing his weight behind a bid by the Auckland Council to fast-track the more than doubling of the city's water allowance from the Waikato River. And he's coming out strongly against anyone who plans on getting in the way of this campaign. "It is my ...
The Green Party is thrilled to see changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that mean consents for large projects can be declined if they will have significant climate change implications that are inconsistent with the Zero Carbon Act and Aotearoa New Zealand’s Paris Agreement obligations. ...
Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence The Royal New Zealand Navy’s new ship, Aotearoa, set sail for New Zealand on 10 June from the Republic of Korea, and is due to arrive in Auckland tomorrow, announced Minister of Defence Ron Mark. “Aotearoa is the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new fleet ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Racing Racing Minister Winston Peters has today welcomed the Racing Industry Bill passing its third reading, creating the legislative framework for revitalising the racing industry while limiting the need for future government intervention. “For too long our domestic racing industry has ...
The Green Party has today put forward an amendment to the Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill to ensure all people in prisons can vote in general elections. ...
The Green Party welcomes the decision to not proceed with Public Public Investment (PPI) delivery of Auckland’s light rail project and to instead run the process through the public service. ...
Hon Ron Mark, New Zealand First List MP based in the Wairarapa New Zealand First List MP Hon Ron Mark welcomes the announcement of Provincial Growth Funding investment of $1.4 million to help secure the Wairarapa’s water supply. The funding boost will allow the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), and ...
New Zealand First list MP Mark Patterson has been selected to represent the party in the newly formed Taieri electorate at the upcoming election. Mr Patterson, his wife Jude and two daughters farm sheep and beef at Lawrence and Waitahuna. He previously stood in the Clutha-Southland electorate however boundary changes ...
Hon Shane Jones, Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises A new ‘super depot’ to be built for NZ Post in Wellington will create around 350 jobs during construction, Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises Shane Jones says. Shane Jones today attended a ground-breaking and blessing ceremony for the parcel-processing depot ...
Our strong economic management prior to COVID-19 - with surpluses, low debt and near-record-low unemployment - put us in a good position to weather the impact of the virus and start to rebuild our economy much earlier than many other countries.Now we're putting our plan to recover and rebuild ...
Darroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Spokesperson for Law and Order Recently released Police fleeing driver statistics have shown yet another increase in incidents with another record-high in the latest quarter. “This new quarterly record-high is the latest in a string of record-high numbers since 2014. The data shows incidents ...
New Zealand First MP Fletcher Tabuteau is pleased to be confirmed today as the party’s candidate for the Rotorua electorate. Speaking at the Rotorua AGM for New Zealand First, Mr Tabuteau said this is an election that is incredibly important for the people of Rotorua. “The founding principles of New ...
The Human Rights Commission’s PRISM report on the issues impacting people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) provides an excellent programme of work for future governments to follow, say the Greens. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the trans-Tasman bubble had not been jeopardised after aborder botch-upresulted in New Zealand having two active cases of COVID-19. On Friday, Mr Peters told RNZ's Morning Report he had heard from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that borders for trans-Tasman travel would open by ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said today he was pleased the army was now running the quarantine and isolation process - up until now it has been the Ministry of Health. Peters told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking that the army knew how to introduce and follow protocols and instil discipline. ...
Hon Ron Mark, New Zealand First List MP based in the Wairarapa New Zealand First MP and Minister for Defence and Veteran’s Affairs Ron Mark has confirmed his bid for the Wairarapa seat.“The Coalition Government has done a lot of good work throughout the Wairarapa, but many constituents have told ...
New Zealand First is pleased to release the names of its next tranche of candidates for the 2020 election. We’re proud to announce these hardworking New Zealanders that have put their hand up to fight for a commonsense and resilient future.Jamie Arbuckle – Kaikoura Mark Arneil – Christchurch Central Jackie ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence A massive joint effort between New Zealand Government agencies, employers, and the Vanuatu Government is underway to repatriate over 1000 Vanuatu nationals stranded in New Zealand, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron ...
Small businesses are getting greater certainty about access to finance with an extension to the interest-free cashflow loan scheme to the end of the year. The Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme has already been extended once, to 24 July. Revenue and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash says it will be ...
A package of 23 projects across the country will clean up waterways and deliver over 2000 jobs Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Environment Minister David Parker announced today. The $162 million dollar package will see 22 water clean-up projects put forward by local councils receiving $62 million and the Kaipara ...
Tena koutou katoa Nga tangata whenua o tenei rohe o Pōneke, tena koutou Nau mai, haere mai ki te hui a tau mo te roopu reipa Ko tatou! Ko to tatou mana! Ko to tatou kaupapa kei te kokiri whakamua Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa Welcome. I ...
A new programme, which sets a firm course for the Building and Construction sector to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has been announced by the Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa. “A significant amount of New Zealand’s carbon emissions come from the building and construction sector. If we’re serious ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing more than $7.5 million in Northland ventures to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment is going to the Northern Adventure Experience and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins today announced significant funding for Auckland’s Northcote College as part of the first wave of a new nationwide school redevelopment programme to upgrade schools over the next 10 years. The $48.5 million project brings the total investment in Northcote College to ...
The Government has opened an urgent response fund to support schools and early learning services to get children and young people back on track after the Covid-19 lockdown. “While we are seeing improvements in attendance under Alert Level 1 Ministry of Education data shows that attendance rates in our schools ...
The law to boost the economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19 by speeding up resource consenting on selected projects has passed its second and third readings in the House today. “Accelerating nationwide projects and activities by government, iwi and the private sector will help deliver faster economic recovery and ...
Five port-related projects in Whanganui will receive a $26.75 million Provincial Growth Fund investment to support local economic recovery and create new opportunities for growth, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This is a significant investment that will support the redevelopment of the Whanganui Port, a project governed ...
Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery will receive an investment of up to $12 million administered by the Provincial Growth Fund to support its redevelopment, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The project is included in a $3 billion infrastructure pipeline announced by Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Shane Jones yesterday. ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing nearly $2.5 million into three Te Ara Mahi programmes to support Manawatū-Whanganui jobseekers and employees to quickly train and upskill, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Up to 154 local people will be supported into employment within the first year by these ...
This morning I have formally tendered my resignation as Minister of Health, which was accepted by the Prime Minister. Serving as Minister of Health has been an absolute privilege – particularly through these extraordinary last few months. It’s no secret that Health is a challenging portfolio. I have given ...
Scholarships for 57 early-career agricultural emissions scientists from 20 developing countries is another example of New Zealand’s international leadership in primary sector sustainability, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Mr O’Connor, announcing the scholarships today, says hundreds of applications were received for this fourth round of the CLIFF-GRADS programme (Climate, Food ...
A project to help rejuvenate the Horowhenua town of Foxton will receive a Provincial Growth Fund investment of $3.86 million, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This funding for the Foxton Regeneration project will be used to make the well-known holiday town even more attractive for visitors and ...
Moa bones and other sub-fossil remains of extinct species are set to have improved protection with proposals to prevent the trade in extinct species announced the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage today. “We have lost too many of our native species, but these lost species, such as moa, remain an ...
The Government’s free and healthy school lunches programme moves south for the first time creating jobs for around 30 people in Otago and Southland. “Eighteen schools with 3000 students are joining the programme – 11 have already begun serving lunches, and seven are preparing to start during Term 3. This is ...
Thousands of Kiwi jobs and investment in New Zealand productions will be protected through a screen sector support package announced today by Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford and Minister for Broadcasting Kris Faafoi. The package also includes investment in broadcasting ...
The Government has established a new $10 million fund for the domestic events sector to help save jobs and protect incomes as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, Minister of Economic Development Phil Twyford announced today. This funding from Budget 2020 follows talks with the event sector designed to ...
The Government has taken another step in its commitment to making sure New Zealanders get a fairer deal at the petrol pump with the introduction of legislation to improve competition in the retail fuel market, says Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods. “The fuel market study that this Government ordered ...
New Zealand has joined a global initiative that aims to enable all countries to access a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today. The COVAX Facility was recently launched by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The Alliance includes the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank ...
From today new legislation takes effect to both restore the right to legal representation at the start of a Care of Children (CoCA) dispute in the Family Court, and allow parties to those proceedings to access legal aid where eligible. During a visit to the Family Court in Auckland today, ...
Home-based early childhood education (ECE) subsidised by the government will transition to a fully qualified workforce by 2025 to ensure better and more consistent quality, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Quality early learning helps provide children with a strong foundation for their future,” Chris Hipkins said. From 1 January ...
The new Criminal Cases Review Commission | Te Kāhui Tātari Ture (CCRC) has started work and can now independently investigate claimed miscarriages of justice. “Even though we have appeal rights and safeguards against unsafe convictions, from time to time our justice system does get things wrong. The design of the ...
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou Ki a koutou Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Whānui, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei, tēnā koutou Ko Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa ki ngā take o te Ao (NZIIA), Ko te Rōpū Tohu Tono ...
The Government’s increase to paid parental leave kicks in today with another 4 weeks taking New Zealand up to a full 6 months (26 weeks, up from 22 weeks) leave for new parents, and the maximum weekly payment will increase by $20pw, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. ...
A new package of infrastructure investments will help kick-start the post-COVID rebuild by creating more than 20,000 jobs and unlocking more than $5 billion of projects up and down New Zealand. Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones today outlined how the $3 billion infrastructure fund in the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today expressed the New Zealand Government’s deep disappointment at the passage by China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee of a national security law for Hong Kong. “New Zealand has consistently emphasised its serious concern about the imposition of this legislation on Hong Kong without inclusive ...
More jobs and more family time with newborns are the centrepiece of a suite of Government initiatives coming into effect today. July 1 is a milestone day for the Government as a host of key policies take effect, demonstrating the critical areas where progress has been made. “The Coalition Government ...
Environment Minister David Parker has today “called in” Auckland’s application to the Waikato Regional Council to take an extra 200 million litres of water a day from the lower reaches of the Waikato River for Auckland drinking water and other municipal uses. The call-in means the application has been referred ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker announced today that New Zealand’s hosting of APEC in 2021 will go ahead using virtual digital platforms. Mr Peters said the global disruption caused by COVID-19, including resultant border restrictions, had been the major factor in the ...
The start of construction on a new link road between Matakana Road and State Highway 1 will create jobs and support the significant population growth expected in the Warkworth area, Transport Minister Phil Twyford and Mayor Phil Goff announced today. Transport Minister Phil Twyford said construction of the Matakana Link ...
The Government is prioritising its latest investment in PPE for frontline health workers, including staff at managed isolation and quarantine facilities, Health Minister David Clark says. “With no community transmission of COVID-19 our response now has a firm focus on keeping our border safe and secure. “We must ensure that ...
The Parihaka Papakāinga Trust in Taranaki will receive up to $14 million for a new visitor centre and other improvements at the historic settlement that will boost the local economy and provide much-needed jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little have ...
Protections for workers who are employees of one employer but working under the direction of another business or organisation have come into force, closing a gap in legislation that made the personal grievance process inaccessible for some workers, says Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. “This Government is working hard to ...
A range of improvements are already underway to address issues identified in the rapid review of the Managed Isolation and Quarantine system released today, Housing Minister Megan Woods said. The review was commissioned just over a week ago to identify and understand current and emerging risks to ensure the end-to-end ...
The important brown kiwi habitat around Whakatāne will receive added protection through an Iwi-led predator free project announced by Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau. “The Government is investing nearly $5 million into Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa’s environmental projects with $2.5 ...
An extra 4,000 tonnes of offcuts and scraps of untreated wood per year will soon be able to be recycled into useful products such as horticultural and garden mulch, playground safety surfacing and animal bedding as a result of a $660,000 investment from the Waste Minimisation Fund, Associate Environment Minister ...
The Governor-General has referred Scott Watson’s convictions for murder back to the Court of Appeal, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Mr Watson was convicted in 1999 of the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. His appeal to the Court of Appeal in 2000 was unsuccessful, as was his ...
A new five-year funding agreement for the Reserve Bank will mean it can boost its work to protect New Zealanders’ finances, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “New Zealand has a strong and stable financial system. Financial stability is an area that we are not prepared to cut corners for, particularly ...
A law change has been introduced to make it easier for forgotten funds in institutional accounts to be returned more easily to their rightful owners. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash has introduced an amendment to the Unclaimed Money Act 1971. It will update the rules controlling forgotten sums of money held ...
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Days after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Philippines Anti-Terrorism Law, Vice-President Leni Robredo has pushed for safeguards so that the controversial measure would not be abused, reports Rappler. In her weekly radio show with co-host Ely Saludar, Robredo noted that she does not oppose the law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Developments in Melbourne on Saturday are more important, and certainly of more interest to the public, than what has happened in Eden-Monaro. Anthony Albanese is set to struggle over the line in the Labor seat, ...
The campaign to stop the Department of Conservation exterminating tahr in national parks is gathering increasing public support, with nearly 40,000 people signing the petition calling for a halt to DOC’s plans. The Change.org petition was started ...
DATE: Sunday, 5th July 2020 TIME: 15:00 LOCATION: Taylor Preston's, Centennial Highway, Wellington On Sunday, Wellington Animal Save will be bearing witness to animals on their way to slaughter, outside Taylor Preston's slaughterhouse. ...
Local Government’s Regional Sector are welcoming an announcement today of over $162 million in central government funding for 22 regional and unitary council Jobs for Nature projects, saying the strong support is an endorsement of the return on ...
Political editor Justin Giovannatti reports from Te Papa, where the prime minister today addressed Labour’s 2020 Congress.Jacinda Ardern looked to slap a Labour sticker on the team of five million with the launch today of the party’s Covid-19 recovery plan, at an event which serves as the unofficial kickoff to ...
Kelvin Davis stole the show at Labour’s 2019 conference with a hilarious speech about the formation of the coalition government. The party’s oft-underestimated deputy leader was again in the spotlight this year, but with a more solemn yet at times impassioned address outlining the country’s Covid-19 sacrifices. Here is the text: Anne Guenole. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Russo, Associate Professor, Director Cabrini Monash University Department of Nursing Research, Monash University The Victorian government’s decision to “close and contain” nine public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne represents a significant escalation in the fight against COVID-19. Under the ...
By Grace Auka-Salmang in Port Moresby Key findings from the 2016 to 2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey reveals that 56 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in PNG have experienced physical violence around the age of 15. And 28 percent have experienced sexual violence. Also 18 ...
The New Zealand Herald recently published a column which criticises its own record on race. Teuila Fuatai explains why she felt she had to call out the paper that commissioned her. In the column, freelance journalist Teuila Fuatai detailed her concerns about the Herald’s record on race and her efforts to ...
Dunedin writer Victor Billot farewells retiring National MP Paula Bennett.Working Class Hero I came up the hard way in Taupo, you see, surviving off Weetbix (just occasionally.) I waited tables then knocked off a degree, perhaps with the help of a state subsidy. Then a man with a ...
Three of the country's biggest seafood companies have broken ranks with the rest of the sector and declared their support for cameras on fishing boats. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne This article was updated July 5. With 77% of enrolled voters counted at Saturday’s Eden-Monaro byelection, Labor’s Kristy McBain currently leads the Liberals’ Fiona Kotvojs by a 50.8-49.2 projected ...
The family of pioneering New Zealand suffragist Kate Sheppard kept an important secret – one that possibly explains a lot about her life, her beliefs and her motivation.Kate Sheppard’s secret involved her father, Andrew Wilson Malcolm, and what happened to him after she was born. An extensive and painstaking quest ...
Covid-19 or not, renewable energy is the future. That’s why one grassroots business is taking a leap of faith and trusting that the current downturn will eventually yield to an ecotourism boom.To launch an ecotourism business in rural Otago right now, you’d need to be either a visionary or just ...
Sam Brooks reviews Auckland writer Lil O’Brien’s memoir Not That I’d Kiss A Girl, and finds it a valuable yet unclear story of the author’s struggle with her own acceptance.As queer people, we can be unnecessarily harsh on media that is about us, and by us. I think of the ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level one – read about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to donations from Spinoff Members. To support this ...
In the wake of lockdown, Volunteering New Zealand is calling on people to reshape the way they think about volunteering. To unite with whānau, friends and workmates to make a group commitment to a community or cause that matters to them. Covid-19 ...
Mahesh Bindra has been a loyal member of NZ First for almost 15 years. But as an Indian-New Zealander, what does he make of members of his party attacking his community? Multicultural Times editor Gaurav Sharma reports.Winston Peters, deputy prime minister and leader of New Zealand First, likes to say ...
As Auckland suffers its worst drought in 27 years, many of the city’s self-service car washes are doing a roaring trade. Michael Andrew finds out how these businesses are getting around the strict water restrictions.Car washing may seem like a wasteful luxury in the middle of a drought, but take ...
Call it last, call it the foundation: Georgie Dansey is 84th on the Labour Party list for the 2020 election. Here she explains how she got there.What does it take to come last on the Labour list? It’s a bit of a story, so if you’re feeling tl;dr then just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne At Saturday’s Eden-Monaro byelection, Labor’s Kristy McBain currently leads the Liberals’ Fiona Kotvojs by a 50.7-49.3 projected margin in The Poll Bludger’s Eden-Monaro election page. This page has all the ...
The controversial MP says his former party put a target on the minister’s back, but Melissa Lee insists there was no concerted campaign.The MP who exited the National Party in a tailspin attack on former leader Simon Bridges has publicly apologised to Clare Curran for his role in the treatment ...
By Jane Patterson, political editor of RNZ News The State Services Minister says the government will do everything it can to track down who is responsible for a massive privacy breach relating to New Zealand’s active covid cases, and is not ruling out pursuing criminal charges. An investigation has been ...
The National editorial Hundreds walked the Sir John Guise drive on Thursday calling for justice for the brutal death of 19-year-old mother-of-two – Jenelyn Kennedy last week. Jenelyn’s battered lifeless body was taken into the Port Moresby General Hospital last Tuesday by four men (one believed to be the father ...
*Watch the full video in the player below*In the first 48 hours of life, blood from newborn New Zealand babies is taken and tested. Most parents will never hear back. For others, it’s life-changing, and life-saving. Frank Film investigates. Performed 48 hours after birth, it’s a medical procedure ...
Latest from the Beehive Shane Jones, the Minister of Munificence, in a joint statement with fellow Northlander and Deputy PM Winston Peters, wrapped up a week of handout investment announcements with news of more millions for the people of his patch in the Far North. This time it was a ...
By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby A passionate plea by men, women and children has echoed around the Papua New Guinean capital of Port Moresby – that it is time to turn the corner on addressing gender-based violence in the country. Gatherings, a peaceful march and a vigil were staged ...
Former Race Relations Commissioner Gregory Fortuin has called out National MP Hamish Walker for his racist comments towards people of colour. This follows Walker's press release objecting to people from Pakistan, India and Korea potentially being quarantined ...
Khruangbin have established their live reputation with spacious instrumentals, but the band’s third album, Mordechai, features prominent vocals and disco-funk jams. Andrew Drever interviews the Texas-based trio upon its release.While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage in the US, the situation has actually been a blessing in disguise for Khruangbin ...
The State Services Minister says the government will do everything it can to track down who is responsible for a massive privacy breach relating to New Zealand's active Covid cases, and is not ruling out pursuing criminal charges. ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level one – read about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to donations from Spinoff Members. To support this ...
With the collapse of Bauer NZ resulting in Australian magazines flooding our shelves, Wendyl Nissen looks back at her battle to get homegrown content given the star billing it deserved.Thanks to some hard-fought battles 30 years ago, New Zealand women have been enjoying their own version of Woman’s Day and ...
Extending the franchise to prisoners is the latest in a series of contentious electoral reforms enacted by this government, but history suggests the ‘convention’ for consensual election reform is more imagined than real.The Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Act, passed last week and corrected this week, extends the franchise ...
Since publication of Newsroom’s extensive investigation into serious issues at Oranga Tamariki, our inbox has been flooded with stories from more current and former employees. In less than 48 hours after Newsroom’s in-depth inquiry into the children's ministry was published we received a high volume of correspondence from current and former ...
“She’d come into town on the bus. The photographer, so her mother had told her, was famous”: a short story by Wellington writer Elspeth Sandys. It was to be a present for her father who was dying. A photograph of her in her first ball gown. When she reached for ...
Those who can’t afford to travel will “attend” the terror sentencing via video link, the Immigration Minister says. David Williams reports The Immigration Minister is demanding officials give urgent help to overseas victims of the Christchurch terror attack and their families. Yesterday, High Court Justice Cameron Mander announced the terrorist, ...
Controversy over Wellington's Shelly Bay has ensnared iwi, the council and politicians for years. Investigative journalist Nicky Hager uses official documents to lay out the roles of money, power and wheels-within-wheels on this most contentious of developments. Any time I am asked whether we have corruption in New Zealand, I ...
Is the answer to saving New Zealand's professional sports teams creating super-franchises? The Extra Time podcast asks sports leaders. Professional sport is slowly emerging from the grip of the pandemic but its financial future is far from certain. Covid-19 highlighted a weakness in the structure of professional sport in New ...
Before Covid-19, it’d take a long flight and half a grand to see Hamilton in the flesh. Now, the biggest musical of the past two decades is available to watch on Disney+. Sam Brooks takes stock of this extraordinary move. Right now, Broadway is a sleeping dragon. New York theatres ...
Sacked cabinet minister Clare Curran speaks for the first time about the brutal end to her political career – and what she calls the toxicity and bullying that marked her years in parliament. By Donna Chisholm.Of all the humiliations – often self-inflicted – that Clare Curran endured during her 12-year ...
On 03 July Children’s Commissioner was given additional responsibility by the Minister of Justice which extended its role as the independent monitor of the conditions and treatment of children and young people in secure detention centres. The Children’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, ARC Future Fellow, UNSW The term “heatwave” is no stranger to Australians. Defined as when conditions are excessively hot for at least three days in a row, these extreme temperature events have always punctuated our climate. With many of us ...
Pacific Media Watch A senior Indonesian government official and a New Zealand journalism professor have clashed over differing perspectives on access for journalists and media to the West Papua region. Speaking on a webinar organised by the Jubi newspaper in Jayapura, Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ director of the European affairs ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Mintzes, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney To beat the coronavirus pandemic, countries need to collaborate. We need the best possible science to develop vaccines and drugs, and to test, track and contain the virus. If we’ve learned anything ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Russell Dean Christopher Bicknell, Post-doctoral researcher in Palaeobiology , University of New England Let’s turn back the hands of time. Before extinction knocked dinosaurs off their pillar, before the “Great Dying” extinction wiped out 95% of all organisms – we had the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Williams, Researcher at the Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine (VELiM), University of Sydney Last week, outgoing chief medical officer Brendan Murphy announced all returned travellers would be tested for COVID-19 before and after quarantine. Some were surprised ...
A new package to help foreign nationals stuck in New Zealand due to Covid-19 is inadequate and needs to be supplemented with the emergency benefit, say Community Law Centres O Aotearoa (CLCA) and the Human Rights Commission (HRC). The assistance ...
With Shortland Street’s 7,000th episode screening tonight, Tara Ward salutes the soap for keeping calm and carrying on through level three lockdown. It’s been one heck of a week on Shortland Street. Leanne lost her winning $8 million Lotto ticket, Louis slipped over in a pile of vomit, and Desi tried ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Clift, Teaching Fellow and PhD candidate, University of Melbourne In recent days, the prime ministers of the UK and Australia each declared they are working toward providing safe haven visas for Hong Kong residents. In the US, lawmakers passed a bill ...
How two multi-millionaires, two pandemic futurists, Air NZ’s former boss, a dairy executive on a break, a retired anaesthetist (and a few others) nearly saved NZ. ...
A commitment from Labour to protect productive farmland from blanket afforestation if re-elected is a step in the right direction, Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chairperson William Beetham says. "We’re really pleased there is now ...
Tomorrow, 4 July, will see protests in at least nine centres around New Zealand against Israeli plans to steal more Palestinian land (Details are at the end of this media release) “Virtually the entire international community is standing together ...
Pacific Media Watch Australia’s ABC has revealed the Australian Federal Police (AFP) recommendation regarding the Afghan Files investigative journalism report is for the Commonwealth DPP to consider charging journalist Dan Oakes for his role in the leak. The revelation has prompted a renewed call by the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom ...
While we’re growing in confidence that we are in the enviable position of basically eliminating Covid-19, our trading nation at the bottom of the world is also in the unenviable position of locking off our economy to the world. “No is not an answer ...
Netflix’s new adaptations of The Baby-Sitters Club makes long-time fan Tara Ward fall in love with the series all over again. When I was 12 years old, my class had to write a letter to a famous person. Some of my classmates wrote to an All Black, Tom Cruise or ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is questioning the scale and value of the Government’s $230m screen industry recovery package. Union spokesperson Jordan Williams says: “The official justification for this ‘recovery package’ is the impact of COVID-19 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Former Ambassador and Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland Chinese activity in Papua New Guinea was not the only factor behind Australia’s Pacific “Step-Up”. As a former high commissioner to PNG, I know it ...
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk A Papuan church leader and advocate for social justice has penned an open letter to the Indonesian government calling for justice and an end to racism to enable a genuine self-determination process for the Melanesian region. “The problem of Papua has become increasingly complex and severe ...
Latest from the Beehive – Nine press releases (when we checked this morning) had flowed from the Beehive since we last reported. Eight of them brayed about the money Ministers have been spending and (as they prefer to put it) investing. The sole exception came from Environment Minister David ...
CEAC pre-election review of National Party ‘climate change policy’, is lacking in substance without any clear policy, that will leave voters with no idea of what National Party plans for saving our climate, and glancing at their ‘Transport plans’, ...
Film crews can get exemptions to enter New Zealand, so why not the families and supporters of terror victims, David Williams asks. OPINION: If the public needs a sign last year’s terrorist attack has slipped off the Government’s radar, this is it. A sentencing date has been set for the ...
A new poem by Michaela Keeble.Only the ocean only the oceanturns me overlike this only the oceanturns meon like this only the oceangives warning: what will changeand when so it doesn’t comeacrosslike violence white capsdrift inon the rising tide i feel likeopening my legs i don’t wantto do anything elsetoday i don’t wantto goto work i want to lie downwith ...
As the Covid-19 pandemic rages round the world, New Zealanders are re-discovering food production is the fundamental engine of the economy. And farming is not a sunset industry. Instead of being rubbished by lobby groups for so-called “dirty dairying”, the country’s core export industry has the chance to transform itself ...
Open mike 24/10/2019 
MONDAY JULY 6Washington (History, Sky 073, 7.30pm). The brilliant Doris Kearns Goodwin is the executive producer of this six-part series about America's first president. It combines interviews with live action and is narrated by Jeff Daniels. It's engaging, said Salon.TUESDAY JULY 7The ABC Murders (Prime, 8.30pm). Sarah Phelps has done incredible things with ...9 hours ago
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A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 28 through Sat, July 4, 2020 Editor's Choice '2040': A funny, entertaining, upbeat climate documentary A timely Australian documentary takes a 'solutions' approach, with the filmmaker inspired by visions of ...21 hours ago
Dave Heatley Zero community transmission. Just a handful of active cases, all in quarantine. New Zealand is in an attractive situation, at least compared to much of the world. The situation could be robust and enduring – or it might be fragile, just one border incursion away from a “second ...2 days ago
Is the consequence of the Simpson Report proposals for restructuring the health system poorer accountability to people? When in doubt, centralise‘ has been a persistent theme in New Zealand public policy throughout our history. The current government is no exception. Here are some examples. - The regional polytechs have been ...2 days ago
Three years ago the ABC used leaked information to expose war crimes by Australian troops in Afghanistan. Since then the chief of Australia's special forces has admitted that his troops committed war crimes. But guess who the Australian government is prosecuting? Police have referred allegations against an ABC journalist relating ...3 days ago
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Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency, I have landed in hospital so am not able to do a current update on the NZ blog statistics. Let’s hope I can get back to this in good time. ...4 days ago
The Greens have shaken up the election campaign with the announcement of their radical poverty and action plan to reform welfare provision and introduce a new wealth tax for millionaires. It’s a big-thinking, controversial policy and has generated a lot of disagreement over how radical it is, whether it could ...4 days ago
When the Christchurch murderer pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder and a number of other violent assault charges a few months ago, he effectively closed the door on what the public will know about the lead up to and commission of the event. His plea means that no evidence ...5 days ago
Daphna Whitmore The Philippines is enduring one of the longest lockdowns in the world. For President Duterte the lockdown provides an opportunity to garner more powers and to push through a brazen assault on human rights. A new law called the Anti-Terror Bill has been passed under urgency and it ...6 days ago
There really is not much about Paula Bennett concerning her career trajectory, the policies she promoted, and most importantly, the socio-economic effect this had upon New Zealand (and particularly the most vulnerable in this, our oft-cited “egalitarian” society of this country) that can be said now that hasn’t already been ...6 days ago
Helloy… My name is Todd Muller and I am the leader of the National Party of New Zealand. Many people come up to me on the street and ask me who I am. I’m often walking through Tauranga, or in a mall in suburban Auckland, or maybe even a farmers’ ...6 days ago
. . Plague town? There are two things right now in Aotearoa New Zealand that are guaranteed to piss people off. Firstly, it’s National playing silly-bugger politics with the covid-19 pandemic. This cost Simon Bridges his job as National’s Leader. Lately, Michael Woodhouse has been playing fast and loose with ...7 days ago
Tertiary fees in New Zealand versus Australia: Fees Are Important, but not as Important as Financing In Australia, the Education Minister Dan Tehan has proposed an overhaul of the existing higher education funding system to offer 39,000 additional study places by 2023 and 100,000 by 2030. The proposal has been ...7 days ago
The images and reports delivered to us by the world’s media leave us in no doubt that the rest of the world is still in the grip of a coronavirus pandemic that shows no signs of slackening, but is actually uncontrolled and picking up pace in many countries; and even ...1 week ago
We have been assailed by Fox News-style headlines, lurid stories of “a breach!”. An almost nuclear level disaster on the horizon scream, “Fiasco!” here, “Hero to Zero!” there… Oh quick, panic everyone! This has fueled an unbelievably stupid environment of panic among some, and spurred useless, counterproductive political ...1 week ago
New Zealanders deserve healthy rivers and lakes that are safe to swim in - but they have been getting worse for decades. That's why, with our latest announcement, we're investing in projects that will help clean up our rivers and lakes and restore them to health, within a generation. ...11 hours ago
The Green Party has opposed the COVID-19 Recovery Fast-track Consenting Bill which shortcuts normal consenting processes under the Resource Management Act (RMA), reduces public participation and narrows environmental considerations. ...3 days ago
Hon Shane Jones, Minister of Regional Economic Development A regional freight hub for the lower North Island will be built just northeast of Palmerston North, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The Government is investing $40 million through the Provincial Growth Fund to designate and buy land and design ...4 days ago
Small businesses are getting greater certainty about access to finance with an extension to the interest-free cashflow loan scheme to the end of the year. The Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme has already been extended once, to 24 July. Revenue and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash says it will be ...9 hours ago
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Days after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Philippines Anti-Terrorism Law, Vice-President Leni Robredo has pushed for safeguards so that the controversial measure would not be abused, reports Rappler. In her weekly radio show with co-host Ely Saludar, Robredo noted that she does not oppose the law ...39 mins ago
Justice Minister Andrew Little is committed to reviewing the legal aid threshold in the Family Court if re-elected. ...4 hours ago
The campaign to stop the Department of Conservation exterminating tahr in national parks is gathering increasing public support, with nearly 40,000 people signing the petition calling for a halt to DOC’s plans. The Change.org petition was started ...6 hours ago
Political editor Justin Giovannatti reports from Te Papa, where the prime minister today addressed Labour’s 2020 Congress.Jacinda Ardern looked to slap a Labour sticker on the team of five million with the launch today of the party’s Covid-19 recovery plan, at an event which serves as the unofficial kickoff to ...8 hours ago
Kelvin Davis stole the show at Labour’s 2019 conference with a hilarious speech about the formation of the coalition government. The party’s oft-underestimated deputy leader was again in the spotlight this year, but with a more solemn yet at times impassioned address outlining the country’s Covid-19 sacrifices. Here is the text: Anne Guenole. ...9 hours ago
Dunedin writer Victor Billot farewells retiring National MP Paula Bennett. Working Class Hero I came up the hard way in Taupo, you see, surviving off Weetbix (just occasionally.) I waited tables then knocked off a degree, perhaps with the help of a state subsidy. Then a man with a ...12 hours ago
*Watch the full video in the player below* In the first 48 hours of life, blood from newborn New Zealand babies is taken and tested. Most parents will never hear back. For others, it’s life-changing, and life-saving. Frank Film investigates. Performed 48 hours after birth, it’s a medical procedure ...2 days ago
Latest from the Beehive Shane Jones, the Minister of Munificence, in a joint statement with fellow Northlander and Deputy PM Winston Peters, wrapped up a week of handout investment announcements with news of more millions for the people of his patch in the Far North. This time it was a ...2 days ago
Since publication of Newsroom’s extensive investigation into serious issues at Oranga Tamariki, our inbox has been flooded with stories from more current and former employees. In less than 48 hours after Newsroom’s in-depth inquiry into the children's ministry was published we received a high volume of correspondence from current and former ...2 days ago
“She’d come into town on the bus. The photographer, so her mother had told her, was famous”: a short story by Wellington writer Elspeth Sandys. It was to be a present for her father who was dying. A photograph of her in her first ball gown. When she reached for ...2 days ago
Those who can’t afford to travel will “attend” the terror sentencing via video link, the Immigration Minister says. David Williams reports The Immigration Minister is demanding officials give urgent help to overseas victims of the Christchurch terror attack and their families. Yesterday, High Court Justice Cameron Mander announced the terrorist, ...2 days ago
Controversy over Wellington's Shelly Bay has ensnared iwi, the council and politicians for years. Investigative journalist Nicky Hager uses official documents to lay out the roles of money, power and wheels-within-wheels on this most contentious of developments. Any time I am asked whether we have corruption in New Zealand, I ...2 days ago
Is the answer to saving New Zealand's professional sports teams creating super-franchises? The Extra Time podcast asks sports leaders. Professional sport is slowly emerging from the grip of the pandemic but its financial future is far from certain. Covid-19 highlighted a weakness in the structure of professional sport in New ...2 days ago
How two multi-millionaires, two pandemic futurists, Air NZ’s former boss, a dairy executive on a break, a retired anaesthetist (and a few others) nearly saved NZ. ...2 days ago
Latest from the Beehive – Nine press releases (when we checked this morning) had flowed from the Beehive since we last reported. Eight of them brayed about the money Ministers have been spending and (as they prefer to put it) investing. The sole exception came from Environment Minister David ...3 days ago
Film crews can get exemptions to enter New Zealand, so why not the families and supporters of terror victims, David Williams asks. OPINION: If the public needs a sign last year’s terrorist attack has slipped off the Government’s radar, this is it. A sentencing date has been set for the ...3 days ago
As the Covid-19 pandemic rages round the world, New Zealanders are re-discovering food production is the fundamental engine of the economy. And farming is not a sunset industry. Instead of being rubbished by lobby groups for so-called “dirty dairying”, the country’s core export industry has the chance to transform itself ...3 days ago
Why is it always the innocent law abiding people that get killed.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/116825060/passenger-in-fatal-pursuit-crash-speaks-from-hospital-we-all-nearly-died
Because that is not true but you feel it is. That’s the problem with fallacies, fake facts/factoids, urban myths, et cetera, they intuitively feel right and true but they aren’t.
In this case the innocent person driving to work was killed by another car speeding through a red light who was chased ( unnecessarily) by the Police.
Not a factoid at all.
Jimmy’s comment is worded in a sloppy way that shows sloppy thinking, IMO. It is factually incorrect and uses meaningless adjectives that show it is a largely emotive comment. Lastly, Jimmy’s comment extrapolated from one specific event to generalize.
where does diversity sit with you – in comments that is – as in people writing in a variety of styles and ways which may, or may not, get the message that they are trying to get across, across?
no dyslexics or other wise writing challenged people need to apply. Its one of these things that happen every now and then where comments get laughed out a room on grounds of grammar and comas or the lack there of, and i guess it is easier to do that then to comment on the merit of the post itself.
never mind that if the coppers would not have chased these dumbarse youngsters but rather try to apprehend them later the guys going to work at early morning hours would still be alive and / or healthy.
you forgot to do lots of emphasis with words in italics or bold or an eyesore mishmash of both i much prefer lots of dots … …
i always like reading Phillip Ure comments as i can hear him speaking … …
i can't read his stuff.
literally it hurts to read his stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis
https://www.yourdictionary.com/craptastic
Philip's a smart guy with an interesting take on things but his gratuitous abuse of the ellipsis gives me a nosebleed.
Except that whatever was the message jimmy was trying to get across, the message he actually delivered was a stepping stone to the senseless-sentencing crowd.
If it's always the "innocent law abiding" who get killed, then that gets tweaked into a callous disregard for others.
If everyone including the driver are in danger, it becomes a much more complex problem to determine why these situations happen. We start to consider brain development and the effects of panic and adrenaline, and then we start to wonder if there's a better way to intercept folk for traffic offences, or even whether interception is the safest option compared to other enforcement measures.
to me it seemed more of a plaintive cliched sigh from jimmy – no question mark and not really a big call to debate
Your points are valid.
Yep, we need to get creative with a solution. Chasing inexperienced unlicensed drivers in often stolen cars is turning out crap too often.
If someone pinches my iphone I can log onto an app that will show me exactly where my iphone is. A flashing light on a Google map. Maybe it's time we put similar tech into cars and when warranted, allow the Police to watch a winking light on an in car Google map and pursue at 50 kph.
When people sing in the shower or having one-on-one conversation with themselves, they can express themselves any way they like. When they comment on this site, they should articulate their thoughts in a way that can be reasonably followed and understood by others IMO. I would like to think that this is the point of commenting here unless they’re a troll. As long as a few basic rules are followed, we can avoid Babylonian confusion of languages [plural, although it may all seem English]. In addition, say what you mean and mean what you say, i.e. be clear, be honest, and be genuine. The less we spend here parsing sentences, the more we can focus on the exchange and contest of ideas that may even lead to tangible actionable outcomes. How To Get There is an example of an attempt to transform clear well-understood comments into practice for the greater good. Otherwise, it would be just another ‘talk fest’, which still has its function but much less potential or real/direct impact.
I hope that answered your question in a roundabout way.
yep it is as I figured ta – hopefully some lurkers can learn something from your explanation
To be more factual then, an innocent person on their way to work is now dead due to actions from a young driver who decided to break the law.
Yes, I think we can all agree with that and the sad fact that sometimes innocent bystanders are hurt or killed even.
But drivers old and young break the law every day and people aren't dead afterwards Jimmy. There must be some other reason for this death. It is a puzzle isn't it.
Breaking the law by parking on yellow lines – bad.
Breaking the law by speeding away from police and going through a red light – very bad.
Got to love these Police Chases ?
Yep we soak them up, guilt-free rubbernecking.
Nothing generates utube hits like a "Police chase ends with petrol tanker exploding." headline.
There is rare fame to be found in running, martyrdom. We all love Vanishing Point, he died. To be realistic, the Hollywood runners need to die. Running from the Police is a plan that always ends in a worse situation.
Much better to pull over and declare "Hi, I'm Davo, the illegitimate son of the Sultan of Brunei."
If I could get the officer engaged in my folly, me, the pseudo offspring of the Sultan, it could generate enough utube hits to pay the fine…. and rent.
Utube would kick the concept to the kerb but a Patreon channel could find traction. What would happen if a crew of petty criminal burglars put cameras on their balaclavas and before going to air pixelled out incriminating footage? They could donate all proceeds, viewer hits and TV's pawned, to charity. Electronic Robin Hoods.
I think audiences would suck it up, a ride-a-long with burglars. I think it's an international money spinning winner. Unfortunately, I've got something else on the go at the moment….something legal.
Best plan is get to the US consulate and they extend diplomatic immunity for your hit and run.
I see the Children's Commissioner is calling for police chases to be stopped if youths are identified in the car. If they're wanted for something more serious, ok, but the initial choice should be to leave it for further enquiries.
It reminds me of a chap with whom I had a work-related tussle back in the day. When he failed to turn up for sentencing, the judge issued a warrant and the police didn't bother searching for him beyond minimal effort. Being a dropkick, he got arrested on something else stupid (fraud for riding something with a forged ticket, I think) a few months later, no other resources expended.
Hounding a kid until they crash is up there with Gladiator thrills. Some aspects of civilisation are proving very slow to evolve.
Re chases.
Could the fleeing car get tagged with a GPS chip. (May be like a taser device)
Tracked and get cops in front to stop the car?
I think our authorities should be able to put an authorised access VIN into a computer and get a flashing light on a map.
might as well just hack the car computer and throttle it down while keeping the steering and brakes. That sort of "minority report" stuff in 20 years.
Firing GPS tags or lojacks into vehicles is more problematic. Even if the electrics survive launch and impact, there are too many variables – getting it to fix an old heavy metal car vs not going through the bodywork of a plastic or coke-can car, accuracy requirements in a vehicular pursuit, if you hit an occupant (or it ricochets and hits a pedestrian) will if kill them, that sort of thing. And if they hear the thunk and you pull back, what's stopping them from knocking it off their car?
Besides, we're probasbly not too far off high-altitude, wide area ubiquitous surveillance anyway – "pursuit" gets managed from a control room monitoring maps and the feed from the Eye in the Sky.
To help the innocent people you will be right in behind banning police pursuits then eh Jimmy..?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/102180147/police-pursuits-how-new-zealand-compares-with-australia
Poorly trained Police perhaps ?
Completely different approach….here some old car with young people attracts attention so the cops put the lights on ..teeenage brains trigger the fight or flight response and away they go.
In QLD they have to be an existing danger to the public for there to be a full chase, otherwise they dont even do it
It just has to happen here , it must . Hopefully the chance will come when the Police chief retires , even if they have to bring someone in from Qld !
I don't know what the answer is Maui. I do not like the thought of police being unable to apprehend a person who has failed to stop when signaled if they are driving recklessly and likely to cause an accident anyway. I do think this has encouraged more (particularly young people) to run from police. Perhaps harsher penalties are needed for people that fail to stop for police, eg. jail time (simply banning them from driving has no effect as a lot of them already have no licence).
[deleted]
[lprent: Don’t astroturf our site. You already said that with the same link and slightly different words. ]
system crashed when I was posting comment then said I had already said that
Ok – fair enough. I get instinctively twitchy when I see duplicate links. It always brings back bad memories of the worst days of trolling here.
Jill Stein responds to another bat shit crazy conspiracy theory from the neo-libs in the democrats.
22 min long – worth playing in background whilst you do some house work.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12279106
So after becoming some of the MOST informed within NZ on the Euthanasia Bill, hearing many representations on the matter, our MP's cannot make the decision. Leave it to a referendum by those who were not so privy to public and professional feedback.
Do they not realise that with the likes of health/housing decisions made in parliament do result in life and death situations.
Ok to be seen in a smile and wave photo opportunity or display concern – But to do something tangible ???
Parliament may make laws but the public at large has to support them or they can get repealed. Not so much a problem here , but the future slippery slope of increasing access to euthanasia as has occurred elsewhere can be prevented by the 'public only voted for terminally ill within 6 months'
The terminally ill within 6 months falls far short IMO.
If it's going to go to referendum, lets give the public more choices than that.
Such as and why?
Such as, should people have the right to choose when they want to end it?
And why, because I believe it's an individual's choice, not the States.
Didnt Sylvia Plath make that very choice and NZ has a very high rate of people choosing to end their lives at the time of their own choosing.
They don't have the legal right to access the humane means to do so. Furthermore, there is no legal right (for those that require it) to be assisted.
With all due respect, that’s not much of an answer. You proposed giving the “public more choices” in the referendum but when prompted for detail, zilch, nada.
The 6-month floor for terminally ill makes sense to me. FWIW, I think it is an unhelpful restriction of the bill and influenced by scaremongering about ‘slippery slope’ and coercion.
You do realise this bill/referendum is about euthanasia, not suicide, don’t you?
That is merely your opinion. Nevertheless, it was an answer, thus it wasn't "zilch, nada".
You do realise zilch, nada means nothing, zero, none?
People don't have to be terminally ill within 6 months of death to be in pain and want to end it.
Your last sentence I fully agree with.
The rest of your comment is a cop out and a fob off. Although you pretended @ 4.1.1 to have a considered opinion on giving the “people more choices” in the referendum, you articulated no meaningful alternative choices when asked. In a proper well-designed referendum the question or option(s) should not be leading (as in an opinion) but neutral and ideally allow everyone to provide a meaningful (as in clear and decisive) answer.
It is not compulsory to oblige to other commenters but I cannot stand pretentiousness, FYI.
Are you implying the question should people have the right to choose when they want to end it is a leading question? And if so, can you explain why you see it this way?
You remind me of the opening patsies in platonic dialogues, the ones who open with some "common sense" statement that is incredibly broad and Socrates proceeds to deconstruct.
Like the guy who said we should return people's property to them, and Socrates led him down a path where he ended up giving a homicidal maniac their sword back in the midst of an episode.
1: framing it as "right to choose" is leading, because we have a positive bias towards individual choice
2: surely if someone is temporarily depressed or drunk or in pain, we shouldn't kill them if they ask for it? We can't be sure their perspective or judgement hasn't been clouded by the alcohol, depression, or pain. And yet if they really want to die in that moment, your proposed question enables that
3: how many alternatives do you want? How would you interpret the results of the referendum if there are multiple different options for the same subject?
But is it not a right to choose? Furthermore, people would have a right to choose to say no. So it could be seen either way, nullifiying your suggested bias.
Of course there would have to be following questions to ascertain age and state of mind.
As for alternatives. I believe we should be given more than one. At least three. And they could be drafted such as this current one, allowing voters to choose (with a yes or no answer) which they preferred. Making it easy to interpret the result. With the draft with the most support becoming law.
From one perspective it is. From another perspective it's significantly more complicated than that. Hell, you even just threw in additional questions and factors in response to some pretty elementary what-ifs.
As for your preferred voting system, that just means that with five options almost evenly spread, the one that only a quarter of the country actually support gets selected. An ill-considered system to support a naive interpretation of the issue.
An equally correct-yet-inadequate question would be "do you think healthcare professionals should be allowed to kill their patients without fear of prosecution?"
Sigh.
You were talking about giving people more choices and all you could do is to repeatedely repeat is your opinion, which is singular. A referendum is or should be about the opinion of the people and asked (framed) in a neutral way.
As with Brexit, complex issues should not be reduced to simple binary questions, they should be debated, at length, and viewed from many possible angles. A simple flow chart might do for one person, e.g. you, but when dealing with a diverse pluralistic society it is not the way to make decisions, particularly not on ethical issues. That said, ethically complex issues should not be set in stone, e.g. by Law, because that leads to very dark places and lowers people’s ‘vigilance’ levels IMHO.
McFlock has already done a very good job on other problems with your thinking on this issue.
Gantz isn't Netanyahu, so there's that.
Dont think there is any good choices there , but locking that corrupt prick Netanyahu up would be a good start.
Gantz may have to get support from the Arab list . The last time a PM needed that was some time back with Peres in 95-96
CTV Families Group Open Letter to the Government
Apparently, there is a construction overhaul in the works, but will that address the flaws (see link below) in the large number of defective buildings that have already been built?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/400919/widespread-defective-or-missing-concrete-or-reinforcing-steel-revealed?fbclid=IwAR2tlUcjNl5VV9nGvaND6mfZfzRzeRxnVPLhUvuqfob7_rs1gwGq9RaKRKA
Do DukeofUrl and The Chairman travel in tandem dispensing crumbs of wisdom to the peasants? Happened twice just above. When I see their offerings I tend to leave and have some lunch; better strengthening medicine for the brain.
And do I detect on the part of DoU a target to respond and squash every comment put up? Or it might be those that DoU find cheeky enough to think they might have an idea of their own to put forward for consideration.
Nothing to say on the open letter, the large number of defective buildings nationwide and the potential threat to life they pose, greywarshark?
Oh dear …its very own 'designer socialist' sashsaying down the catwalk again… its all on trend politics…never wants to be accountable …its for show cant you see…for the masses to adore and praise every flourish as if it was of great wisdom.
Instead we get cheap and tacky version of fast
fashionpolitics and opinionTest
If anyone is interested in making changes – submissions to the RMA; – you have only until 7th November to do so.
Good luck to those who want to make RMA protect our ‘built and natural’ environment.
Before you get your hand smacked for not providing a link, cleangreen (tut, tut, tut), here is the link to the Parliament website page on the RMA Amendment Bill which includes the link for making submissions:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_91358/resource-management-amendment-bill
Here is our first submission sent yesterday.
23rd October 2019.
start
Submission to the Resource Management Amendment Bill
Select committee.
Dear Madam’s/Sirs’ on the Select Committee considering the ‘Resource Management Amendment Bill’.
CEAC wish to make verbal submissions and written submissions.
This is to support the restoration of the RMA to the original higher standards we had enjoyed and found for the protection of our ‘Built and Natural’ Environment from 1991when the RMA was first produced for our community environmental protection.
Resource Management Amendment Bill must be reinforced and enshrined in the strong focus of the ‘health and wellbeing’ of all citizens.
CEAC history with use of RMA;
We have been working with PCE and Governments since 2001, on all environmental community concerns using the RMA and have seen a destruction of the environmental protection of the RMA after several corrosive repeals were made to weaken the protection given us since 1991 when the Resource Management Act 1991 was produced.
So we are very active in restoring all the strong processes in the RMA to protect our environment for the wellbeing and health of the public.
For example; Under part two of the RMA ‘The Honourable Nick Smith’ as Environment Minister removed most of section 31 Quote; “(Repeal section 31(1)(b)(ii))”
We need to restore all parts of section 31 section 31(1)(b)(ii)) and Part two of 7 – (other matters) (see below 1991.) territorial functions under the RMA.
We strongly request reinstatement of these amendments to the Act in this Parliament term.
I wish to verbally discuss this issue using a report we assisted the PCE to produce when working alongside the staff of the PCE in 2005 in HB.
The matter was regarding heavy transport road traffic noise and air pollution in our urban communities, in which the PCE used the RMA, to relay the importance of using the RMA to protect the urban community “Amenity values and well- being” using both RMA sections 7c and 31.
At that time and gradually since then in 2015 MP Nick Smith culled and gutted those two important sections of the RMA that protected the health and well-being of our communities, leaving us very badly exposed to environmental harm.
I give you the PCE website location of that PCE report we referred to below.
Please note page eight was the reference where the PCE used the RMA specifically.
Page 8 PCE report 3 The New Zealand context 3.1 Noise and urban amenity values
“Section 7c of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) states that the relevant agencies shall have particular regard to “the maintenance and enhancement of amenity values”. Section 31 states that one of the functions of territorial authorities is “the control of the emission of noise and the mitigation of the effects of noise”. Amenity values are defined as “those natural or physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people’s appreciation of its pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, and cultural and recreational attributes”.
Thank you for the opportunity to engage with the Select Committee on this important amendment process to the RMA.
We are happy to provide any supplemental documentation when/if required.
End.
another big win for the greens…
Sadly it looks bad for our future.
Now they are still selling our forestry to foreign investors.
Chinese were handed our largest public forest back in 2011.
Their consent is to buy farmland so they can plant new Forests
How so? Or were you being sarcastic?
billion trees ring a bell?
We don't need to sell to offshore investors to achieve that.
Maybe we do.
If the Government wanted to, they could make it so. And in doing so, would give them far more control on adding value, wages and safety.
The Government giveth, and the Government taketh away.
Blessed be the name of the Government.
🙄
Now let us pray
You probably think that the government could make that cool again, if it only wanted to.
It comes down to the Government's preferred choice. Clearly, this Government prefers offshore investors over hands on Government.
How will Green Party supporters view this choice? Another nail in the coffin or will their supporters be blinded by the trees? As you were above.
In this matter, they have opted to drop their stance on offshore ownership rather than push for the Government to be more hands on.
You asked why it might be considered a good idea by the Greens.
A billion trees is Green policy. You're worried that Greens will be upset at their policy being implemented… thanks for your concern.
This isn't the sale of logging rights or the export of raw logs or woodchips. This is a foreign investment to add value to the property. Where exactly is the policy problem – feel free to link to actual policies you think are applicable.
The billion trees policy was/is being implemented long before this announcement.
And while this is one way (but far from the only way) to help achieve it, it goes against their stance on foreign ownership of land. Hence, it is highly likely to disappoint a number of supporters.
As it seems you are unsure of their stance, here (below) is what it says on their site.
https://www.greens.org.nz/page/trade-and-foreign-investment-policy
The trees will be harvested at some stage. And while value may be added, as with most investments, the offshore owners will be seeking a return on their investment. Eventually, those returns (if all goes well) will most likely be far larger than the sum invested. As tends to be one of the objectives of investing.
Moreover, it is also highly likely they will receive funding from taxpayers/Government's Provincial Growth Fund.
If we want to continue to ensure we become tenant's and workers (not owners) in our own country this is the way to go in helping to achieve that.
So while you (and others) may only seem to see the trees and are comfortable with that, there is far more to it for us that see that larger picture.
It does, however, meet the sustainability criteria in the same policy.
So a number of Green supporters will see it assisting in the achievement of a key policy, conforming to part of another key policy, but sadly being against another part of that policy (albeit not an ergregious violation, like a billionaire bunker mansion fencing off public walkways).
But then "a number" of supporters of every party are constantly disappointed by everything. Any idea whay this particular number might be? Thanks for your concern.
An opinion (with comments) on foreign ownership in NZ. 48% seems frighteningly high – the trends are small, but interesting nevertheless.
https://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/101772/we-look-data-how-much-new-zealand-owned-foreigners-even-though-foreign-ownership
Also:
https://tcdata360.worldbank.org/countries/NZL?indicator=1541&countries=BRA&viz=line_chart&years=1970,2018&country=NZL
Interesting – the massively rising values hiding a lowering of proportion was intriguing.
For me, capital value is less important than land area or propoertion of dwellings. Value is ethereal, things are what we actually eat or use.
But I’m not sure a measurable number of Green supporters are losing sleep over this particular deal.
Maybe fonterra should diversify into forestry? lol
What a bloody mess
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116806085/aucklands-light-rail-an-economic-tragedy-decades-in-the-making
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12279056
I am afraid that I think the word tragedy is called for when there has been loss of life, not property. But I guess I have different values than John Key.
And my sympathy to I think it is three fire fighters injured fighting this blaze and my thoughts go out to them for a speedy recovery.
Another JK vanity project that unlike the flag he slammed through, he probably has a room being named after him. The 'almost a meeting room'.
I tend to think of the Sky convention Centre as one of the few things John Key achieved. His legacy if you like
Yup pretty typical JK legacy: Here's a bucket of taxpayer money and some concessions to expand your gaming empire beyond it's current level of social harm.
I thought it was the "Ekshully, I think you'll find that most Nu Zillanders don't care about (insert something New Zealanders care about deeply here)…" room.
Or was it the "Look, I don't recall the exact details…" room?
Or perhaps the "I WILL get your husbands and sons out of Pike River Mine… except not really." room?
Or the "Mmmm… ponytails." room?
So many options.
Brighter future room?
euthanasia – the right to a humane death at the time of ones choosing free of interference by others.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/10/paralympic-champion-marieke-vervoort-ends-life-by-euthanasia/
Lats night I listened to Marieke talking about her future. Deeply sad and brought a tear to my eye but oh what a woman.
Rest easy, Marieke.
Fight to the finish – Marieke Vervoort
The story of Belgium's para-athlete Marieke Vervoort who made headlines at the Rio games after revealing she had signed papers to end her life via euthanasia.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04ll7r9
The ones that make me oppose it are the ones we won't hear about.
"….the ones we won't hear about."
Indeed, and when a person with an obvious physical disability is stood over in A and E by a doctor with a Do Not Resuscitate form (after an admittedly alarming but upon investigation a simple episode of syncope) one is forced to realize (yet again) that while there are those in the medical professions holding such prejudices disabled people will be at extreme risk should this legislation be passed.
History says that this is a very real concern and for those in the know there are strong fears about this. I agree with them.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/10/22/i-dont-want-to-sound-racist-about-these-roaming-armed-police-officer-teams-b-u-u-u-u-u-u-t/
Let off without even a slap on the wrist?
The Union is furious.
Firm wouldn't let its drivers take breaks. Drivers were working up to 12 hours without one.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018719120/union-furious-nzta-won-t-prosecute-truck-logbook-breaches
Guess who owns Higgins……Fletchers in another rubber stamped consolidation of the civil construction players.
Thanks, tc. I wasn't aware of that.
Some great investigative reporting here…corruption…never!
read:https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/116638559/why-is-auckland-council-so-eager-to-sell-prime-waterfront-real-estate-to-a-millionaire-developer
Yep, the guy does some good work. Shame about his employer – it's a hard row to hoe earning a crust in NZ these days as someone genuinely committed to the principles of the 4th Estate
yeah …like some mayor decades back , who bought the council owned land in front of his clifftop property. It was done in 2 transactions, the first piece was the access way which left the 2nd piece without access making it almost worthless for the council, but made the Mayors land bigger which allowed a larger building etc
Yep @ Dook. There are endless examples dating back from the days when the Town Clerk was in fashion and Mayor Robbie had a dream.
Leave 'em to it all I reckon. Once they stumble over each other's stupidity, something might come of it.
But what I'm sure of is that the mathematics of a 90+% versus the rest doesn't really bode all that well (going forward, in the fullness of time, in this ecosystem)
Rortneys and Keys supershity at it's finest, it's rumoured a certain car dealer ex mayor has done similar in a city not too far from akl.
They say it's why their turnout was higher than expected as the locals wanted rid of him. His personal billboard campaign to not give to beggars was a lowpoint for many.
Towers and towers of highly paid chair polishers and the Auckland Council orchestrate movements like this bribe stinking fiasco. I wasn't aware there were 2 factions of equal size within the Aux council. Sounds like a recipe for most of their energy to get burnt up in friction heat.
How hard can it be to approach every proposal with a primary overview 'What's best for the people of Auckland?' Changing the Westpark Marina name, flogging it off for a lousy 2 million (land cost for the developer of $8000 per dwelling) and building towers of apartments to block the hillside home owners' views…it would've been in the waste paper bin by smoko.
Its the Council CCO which has its own board and executives doing this , not the elected side.
I agree – shocker.
Yes, the broad church verandahs had to be extended out to accommodate Winston's mob. A coalition of views so broad was always going to make pushing change through difficult. The surprise choice was to extend the verandahs, introduce the Winston factor in amongst the policy promises or spend another 3 years out in the cold.
hello …MMP was designed to make any political changes having a broad support rather than just a bare majority of a main party. Thats how the Rogernomics were pushed through…..
You wouldnt want to the equivalent of rogernomes but 30 yrs later with policies based on 'we must do this or else'
As if you need any further evidence that Mark Richardson is a complete and utter fuckstick and should not be allowed out in public, then here it is…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/116861095/this-is-as-bad-as-ive-ever-felt-mark-richardson-accidentally-outs-ryan-bridge-on-air
I've stuck my foot in my mouth up to the knee on a couple of occasions. Some of us have to learn not to ask a woman if she is pregnant the hard way. Richardson's apology appears heart felt. I think he is a cheeky rightie, not the devil….I'd rather sale a 10m yacht to Fiji with him over Bomber.
I think that we can be proud that we live in a time when the vast majority of us will judge Ryan purely on his ability to host a breakfast TV show and I think he is making a fine job of it…Take another week Dunc.
Shame Mediaworks is looking so wobbly, the short-term big picture ain't grand for any of them.
Agreed Kevin, Mark Richardson is a proper plonker alright.
He thinks he is a ‘gift to humanity’ when he goes on the other hand to rubbish everyone he wants without a care.
He is a shallow man for sure.
Ryan Bridge is a kind caring good ‘anchor’ for channel three’s ‘AM show’ and Mark Richardson is a conceited idiot, and I hope and pray that he is not the son of a good ZB radio NZ man we had with the same Richardson sirname?.
I used to know ‘Keith Richardson’ when he was on 2Zb in Napier.
aww come on it's just 'banter' isn't it and whatever gets clicks/chats etc is good for Brand Richo and his sports jock/priviledged white male shtick routine.
While I don't disagree with your assessment of Mark Richardson, but seeing that clip I think it was an easy mistake and his apology seemed genuine. My question is for Ryan Bridge, in this day and age, while (in your own words) all your friends and family know, why make it an issue on air, why not just carry on and laugh about the ex-boyfriends and move on. Surely no media personality needs a "Yep I'm Gay" outing these days. I suspect his closet must be deeper than he says or he's trying to make himself relevant on an irrelevant program and channel.
It was an honest mistake, those two poke a lot of shit at each other and there was no bad feelings. The link says it all.
Auckland turning both brass into muck, and the emergent environmental disaster.
Millions of litres of water used to extinguish the fire has resulted in several basement layers being flooded to the point where cars are completely covered in the lowest level.
Twomey wasn’t sure how many cars were affected but they would be “write offs” he assumed.Fire appliances on site do not have the pumps required to pump the water, so Fletchers is organising to get some from the Ports of Auckland.Auckland Council will decide where will be a safe place to dump the water, Twomey said.
Fire fighting has environmental consequences.
It has been stated that “Every fire represents some threat to the environment” (CFPA,1990). International studies suggest that chemical contamination of the environment from fire-fighting activities presents a serious hazard to aquatic ecosystems in certain situations. Locally, this is also of concern to the New Zealand Fire Service as well as Regional and District Councils, who have a responsibility to protect the environment from adverse effects. However, uncertainty lies in that little is known about the nature or magnitude of ecological risks from fires and fire-water runoff generally, apart from a number of case reports from internationally occurring ecological catastrophes.
John Key = firebrand policies.
Sadly; while JK was our PM he refused to recognise the hazards of fire.
I am not suggesting JK starts fires but he begun the MBIE and firefighting agency overseeing.
So where was “Worksafe” policy at during this fire?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1009663/
His legacy will be a poisonous unsustainable future using his policies..
Putting the shonky one aside Firefighters have an incredibly dangerous job that they must be super fit for.
I know a few ex coppers who went over, then went back as the Police was a safer gig.
recall the days when there was no hazchem labelling on industrial sites. I take my hat off to all of them, volunteer rural folk are unsung heroes.
yeah. Know a retired firefighter who has all sorts of shite going on due to breathing in so much varied muck over the years.
Accidents never happen – in a perfect world.
Not sure whether JK was mindful of sawdust in the top areas and Grenfell type clad, or perhaps clad sequins.
But Hey. Nothing's really built to last forever in any case.
At least this may necessitate an overall review of the complex in relation to fire, fire egress and earthquake standards.
And with the right oversight (overseeing that is), some reassurance may come out of the mishap.
"Kind Sky City Casino & Hotel operator, and Fletcher's Construction donate overwhelming amount of food and drink to firefighters"
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12279227&ref=clavis
Paralympian Marieke Vervoort fulfills wish to take own life
..Vervoort, who was 40, won gold and silver medals in wheelchair racing at the 2012 London Paralympics, and two more medals three years ago in Rio de Janeiro….
"It's too hard for my body," Vervoort said in the 2016 interview. "Each training I'm suffering because of pain. Every race I train hard. Training and riding and doing competition are medicine for me. I push so hard — to push literally all my fear and everything away."
Vervoort spent her last evening with close friends and family, even sharing a glass of sparkling wine, which she referred to as a painkiller….
Many would genuinely hope that her pain and suffering had not been further exasperated by any external psychological torment associated with fire and brimstone or hell damnation words that so many have had to suffer. Such words so often associated with an individual's assertion that the decision to end their mortal life is made on reasoned, rational grounds, but where, due to the stated beliefs of others, they are accused of serious sinning, or worse that they are under the influence of some unholy being.
Axiomatic that many (perhaps most) who make such a decision are not making it on the basis of being unappreciative of life opportunity itself, nor ungrateful to others who may have provided them care or support throughout their lives.
These are core pain management (physical and psychological), self value and life purpose deliberations, and many would assert that they are not meant to relate to various religious edicts.
Our bodies are under the control of the religions which in turn say that they are speaking for God, which is idolatrous of them. And if a person desires to be with God, then the appropriate thing would be to talk it over seriously with them, posing possible improvements in their life and asking if they were done, would they then wish to remain and enjoy their life.
There would be some time to consider, a day or week depending on the painfulness of the illness or the lack of bodily control, and if the person still wishes to continue then a religious person can take the position that they wish to be with their Creator, their God, or in a state of peace, and accept and dignify the process as wished by both parties.
As I suggest above there is no reason for officious religious persons to come between a living body's will.
Amen to that, Greywarshark.
And those counsellors attached to religions working in any palliative role talking it through this way with the dying should be commended.
But it is the mind control freaks from religious organisations expressing and insisting on the eternal damnation dogma angle that cause so much anguish and emotional distress for those in such a seriously compromised and already weakened condition that people need to identify, and avoid if they can.
Karol121 I have noticed people against euthanasia quoting how seriously ill people have expressed to them that they would like to die, but they always change their minds after being talked with for a while. Of course they do. It's too hard to go against the determined antis especially if they may have their feelings hurt or become angry, and then perhaps make the care they give a little less comforting. To some carers or family, it would be like a slap in the face. They have a plan for looking after you and you are ungrateful or irreligious, ie it is all about them, or they know what God wants and expects.
Thanks.
I understand the context greywarshark. Complicated and ambiguous for many to follow, I guess.
But in any case, this subject is very much a touchy subject.